Conservative Methodists are offered $25,000,000 to go away

[Jerome]

Christianity Today ❧ Traditional Marriage Proponents to Get $25 Million to Leave UMC

"For both conservatives and progressives in the church, this compromise comes as an answer to prayer."

"Various groups were slated to...propose different plans for a split at the UMC’s general conference in May, but under the new agreement, they will abandon the proposals and put their full support behind the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, which was announced Friday."

"the new protocol creates a quick, 'clean break' for a new, traditionalist denomination that...will receive a $25 million sum at its inception."

“The assumption for everybody involved in this agreement was that the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) would launch the traditional denomination referenced in the protocol....As part of the agreement, the WCA will not make further claims for money beyond the $25 million."

"the protocol would put a moratorium on charges against clergy and members who have violated the current prohibitions around homosexuality....The new protocol provides provisions for churches that leave to 'retain their assets and liabilities' and for all clergy and lay employees to keep their pensions."

"LGBT advocates in the UMC have praised the plan....'This is exciting to me', said Jan Lawrence, who participated in the protocol deliberations as director of the Reconciling Ministries Network. 'The potential to have the anti-LGBTQ language removed in 2020 is amazing, and the agreement to start a moratorium...those are very positive things for LGBTQ United Methodists'."

 

[rockytopva]

I have heard the only difference between the Baptist and Methodist is that the Baptist do not believe in backsliding but the Methodist practice it!

 

[Rob_BW]

How many new churches wil they have to build with that 25 million ?

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

How many new churches wil they have to build with that 25 million ?

Unsure, as they seem to be treating each as a united church. Per the article...

In previous attempts to formulate a plan to split, ownership of property has been a sticking point. The new protocol provides provisions for churches that leave to “retain their assets and liabilities” and for all clergy and lay employees to keep their pensions.​

 

[rockytopva]

Franklin Graham comments... Franklin Graham

 

[Jerome]

SBC organ Baptist Press had denominational expert Ed Stetzer explain the Protocol:

Stetzer: 'We could all learn from' proposed UMC split

"'orthodox Methodists will be creating a new evangelical denomination', Stetzer said. 'The progressives will get the denominational assets and name'"

"[In a] 'respectful and dignified separation....the new church would receive $25 million over the next four years and relinquish any further claim to UMC assets', the protocol reads."

"'nothing official has actually happened yet', Stetzer said. 'Key leaders have agreed on a plan to split the denomination, and most observers think their plan will be adopted at the next general conference'."

"'their general conference in 2019...upheld the biblical standard of marriage....because', Stetzer said, 'unlike most U.S. denominations, the UMC is a global denomination. [C]hurches in Africa, Russia and elsewhere are...more conservative'."

 

[Jerome]

So the UMC is casting off its African churches?
That's not a good look.

 

[Adonia]

Christianity Today ❧ Traditional Marriage Proponents to Get $25 Million to Leave UMC

"For both conservatives and progressives in the church, this compromise comes as an answer to prayer."

"Various groups were slated to...propose different plans for a split at the UMC’s general conference in May, but under the new agreement, they will abandon the proposals and put their full support behind the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, which was announced Friday."

"the new protocol creates a quick, 'clean break' for a new, traditionalist denomination that...will receive a $25 million sum at its inception."

“The assumption for everybody involved in this agreement was that the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) would launch the traditional denomination referenced in the protocol....As part of the agreement, the WCA will not make further claims for money beyond the $25 million."

"the protocol would put a moratorium on charges against clergy and members who have violated the current prohibitions around homosexuality....The new protocol provides provisions for churches that leave to 'retain their assets and liabilities' and for all clergy and lay employees to keep their pensions."

"LGBT advocates in the UMC have praised the plan....'This is exciting to me', said Jan Lawrence, who participated in the protocol deliberations as director of the Reconciling Ministries Network. 'The potential to have the anti-LGBTQ language removed in 2020 is amazing, and the agreement to start a moratorium...those are very positive things for LGBTQ United Methodists'."

And people say the Catholic Church has all the money. Twenty-five million? Now that's nothing to sneer at.

 

[Walter]

So the UMC is casting off its African churches?
That's not a good look.

The only reason the UMC voted down full inclusion of LGBTQXYZ clergy, gay marriage, etc. by such a narrow margin was because the African block of delegates all voting against it. Without their votes the UMC would be flyimg rainbow flags in front of many of their churches.

 

[Rob_BW]

SBC organ Baptist Press had denominational expert Ed Stetzer explain the Protocol:

Stetzer: 'We could all learn from' proposed UMC split

"'orthodox Methodists will be creating a new evangelical denomination', Stetzer said. 'The progressives will get the denominational assets and name'"

"[In a] 'respectful and dignified separation....the new church would receive $25 million over the next four years and relinquish any further claim to UMC assets', the protocol reads."

"'nothing official has actually happened yet', Stetzer said. 'Key leaders have agreed on a plan to split the denomination, and most observers think their plan will be adopted at the next general conference'."

"'their general conference in 2019...upheld the biblical standard of marriage....because', Stetzer said, 'unlike most U.S. denominations, the UMC is a global denomination. [C]hurches in Africa, Russia and elsewhere are...more conservative'."

Interesting. I wonder if the UMC will allow majority traditionalist congregations to purchase the buildings they're in with the money.

I also wonder of this will drain people out of any baptist churches. We've had a minor influx of disaffected Wesleyans join our church after the music minister (or whatever their title) at the UMC church down the road began dressing their preteen son as a girl and demanding everyone call him by his new female name.

 

[Rob_BW]

And people say the Catholic Church has all the money. Twenty-five million? Now that's nothing to sneer at.

25 million is small change when you consider 32,000 congregations. If 10 percent of the congregations left and had to purchase new facilities, say 300K on average, you're already close to a billion dollars.

 

[Yeshua1]

And people say the Catholic Church has all the money. Twenty-five million? Now that's nothing to sneer at.

well, the Church of rome has Billions in their accounts!

 

[Yeshua1]

The only reason the UMC voted down full inclusion of LGBTQXYZ clergy, gay marriage, etc. by such a narrow margin was because the African block of delegates all voting against it. Without their votes the UMC would be flyimg rainbow flags in front of many of their churches.

The only real "church: after this split will be those who upheld God and his scriptures, not the "progressives"

 

[Yeshua1]

So the UMC is casting off its African churches?
That's not a good look.

It is if those churches are the only ones still upholding God and his morals!

 

[Jerome]

How many new churches wil they have to build with that 25 million ?

25 million is small change when you consider 32,000 congregations. If 10 percent of the congregations left and had to purchase new facilities, say 300K on average, you're already close to a billion dollars.

Did you miss this...

The new protocol provides provisions for churches that leave to 'retain their assets and liabilities' and for all clergy and lay employees to keep their pensions."

As stipulated in the Protocol...

a local church, that affiliates with the new traditionalist Methodist denomination created through this Protocol, will keep its property: the UMC "will not exercise its trust clause and shall release such local church from the provisions of any and all trust clauses."

clergy who are associated the new traditionalist Methodist denomination created through this Protocol may "continue to participate in pension plans administered by Wespath."

 

[Jerome]

a local church, that affiliates with the new traditionalist Methodist denomination created through this Protocol, will keep its property: the UMC "will not exercise its trust clause and shall release such local church from the provisions of any and all trust clauses."

"A total sum of $25M shall be paid by the General Council on Finance and Administration over the ensuing quadrennium to the traditionalist Methodist denomination established pursuant to this Protocol after it is formed and incorporated."

"All other property, assets, or liabilities of The United Methodist Church, including its general boards and agencies, shall remain with the post-separation United Methodist Church and other Methodist denominations under this Protocol shall have no claim or entitlement to such property, assets, or liabilities."

I'm thinking the $25,000,000 is to help cover the conservatives building a whole nother denominational apparatus, and perhaps their own college/seminary.

 

[Walter]

Did you miss this...

As stipulated in the Protocol...

a local church, that affiliates with the new traditionalist Methodist denomination created through this Protocol, will keep its property: the UMC "will not exercise its trust clause and shall release such local church from the provisions of any and all trust clauses."

clergy who are associated the new traditionalist Methodist denomination created through this Protocol may "continue to participate in pension plans administered by Wespath."

The Episcopal Church has spent untold millions in law suits with conservatives in past years. For the most part, conservatives have lost properties and assets. Similar polity as the UMC, so it would seem a smart move forward for traditionalist Methodists.

 

[Jerome]

There are many Methodist schools that disaffiliated (or started/tried to) from the UMC in a pique over the Traditionalist's [now ephemeral] victory at the General Conference last February. This may draw them back (a conservative-free UMC).

 

[Rob_BW]

Did you miss this...

As stipulated in the Protocol...

a local church, that affiliates with the new traditionalist Methodist denomination created through this Protocol, will keep its property: the UMC "will not exercise its trust clause and shall release such local church from the provisions of any and all trust clauses."

clergy who are associated the new traditionalist Methodist denomination created through this Protocol may "continue to participate in pension plans administered by Wespath."

Missed it, scrolled back up and still don't see it. Was it in the body of the article in the OP?

 

[Jerome]

Did you miss this...

The new protocol provides provisions for churches that leave to 'retain their assets...

Missed it, scrolled back up and still don't see it.