Disaffiliation Process
Week 56 added 12/14/2023
Through the disaffiliation process, we will become an independent church once all obligations per the disaffiliation agreement have been satisfied. Therefore we will have a responsibility to hire our our pastor(s).
At the November Administrative Board meeting the Staff Parish Relations Committee made the following recommendations for our pastors.
Senior Pastor, Dr. David Campbell
Associate Pastor, Sam Gindlesburger
The Administrative Board voted unanimously to accept this recommendation.
We are very fortunate to retain our beloved pastors and look forward to their pastoral leadership.
Ron Hoover, Chairman of the Administrative Board
Week 55 added 12/7/2023
With the recent disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church, we are transitioning from Due West United Methodist Church “DWUMC” to Due West Methodist Church “DWMC.” All membership rolls of DWUMC will be archived.
Due West Methodist Church “DWMC” will begin receiving new members on January 1, 2024. Please be aware that the DWUMC roll will not be moved automatically to the new congregation. DWMC will start fresh. If you were a member of DWUMC and want to be a member of DWMC, you need to let us know! On January 7, 2024, we will celebrate and, for the first time, recite membership vows into the new congregation! Please review our new Member Covenant outlining what membership means. We are also providing our Wesleyan beliefs and core values. If you want to be among the first to join DWMC, please click here to complete the required form.
If you are not on the DWUMC membership role and want to join DWMC, please plan to attend an upcoming Due West 101 class. As we move into the future with new people joining, we want to do everything we can to help you understand what membership in our congregation means. Dates to be announced soon.
We are excited about our new future!
Week 54 added 11/30/2023
This week we wanted to share some wonderful news and important information. As you know, we have been seeking to raise money to cover the disaffiliation costs for the North Georgia Conference and you all have exceeded the goal! God is good and God’s people are faithful.
That money will be used not only to pay the Annual Conference, but also to cover all costs associated with Due West separating from The United Methodist Church. When all of that is done, know that we will offer an accounting of the total monies that came in and how they were spent. The balance remaining in the account, with the approval of the Administrative Board, will be applied to the budget. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
Also, as you continue to faithfully give, please note that our name is changing from Due West United Methodist Church to Due West Methodist Church beginning tomorrow, December 1st. If you or your bank currently issues checks to Due West United Methodist Church, please make that change. For any way you give, please make note. You will begin to see that change reflected on signage and online. But most importantly, you will not see a change in the church that Due West is. We continue to be committed to “Inviting our community to join us as we gather together, grow in Jesus Christ and go serve.”
Thank you again for your prayerful faithfulness!
Week 53 added 11/23/2023
As you heard over the weekend, the North Georgia Annual Conference voted to approve our disaffiliation vote on Saturday. So many of you have stepped forward to ensure we reach our disaffiliation fund goal of $220,000 by November 30. We just surpassed $195,000 on Monday, 89% of our goal. Thanks to all who have made this possible. For those who want to push us over the top… now is your chance. We look forward to celebrating this achievement by the end of the month.
We know you have been praying for the church through this entire process, and we know that you will continue. The church will move forward on the prayers of its people and the power of the Holy Spirit!
Week 52 added 11/18/2023
As most of you know, on August 27th, Due West voted to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church. In 2022, 70 churches made that vote. In 2023, we were one of 266 churches who made that decision. That vote was contingent on approval of a vote of our Annual Conference, which took place today. We now have until the end of the year to comply with all of the requirements of the Annual Conference. You will be hearing more about this in the days and weeks to come, but we wanted you to know that this important step was taken today.
Please continue to keep Due West in your prayers as we move into the future.
Week 51 added 11/2/2023
In the 9th chapter of Mark’s gospel, Jesus along with Peter, James, and John have just come down from the Mount of Transfiguration. There they were met by a man whose son was possessed by an evil spirit. Whenever the spirit seized him, it threw him to the ground. The man brought his son to the other disciples, but they were not able to drive the spirit out. Jesus then commanded the spirit to come out of him and he was healed. Later the disciples asked Jesus in private why they couldn’t drive the evil spirit out. Jesus replied this kind can come out only by prayer.
Prayer was the only answer on that day and prayer remains the only answer as we count down the days until the November 18 Special Session of the North Georgia Annual Conference. On that day, conference delegates will vote yes or no for churches who have voted to disaffiliate from the UMC.
Beginning today we each are encouraged to enter a Season of Prayer by praying daily for the delegates to the conference. Pray that they will honor our desire to disaffiliate. If it works best for you, set your phone alarm for a specific time each day based on your schedule. One suggestion would be 10 am which is the time that the conference will begin. Choose the time or multiple times that are best for you.
On November 18, the south campus sanctuary will be open for prayer from 10 a.m. to noon. You are encouraged to come and be in prayer as the conference begins. One suggestion on that day would be to begin your time of prayer this way:
Recall everything that you know about God.
Recall everything you know about the life-changing ministries that flow daily from our church.
Bring together everything that you know about the ministries of the church and everything that you know about God and ask Him to bless and multiply these ministries.
Ask God to soften the hearts of the delegates who may be disinclined to honor our desire.
I will be there to join you in prayer on November 18.
Blessings,
Ron Hoover, Chairman of the Administrative Board
Week 50 added 10/19/2023
Hello friends,
I represent the 19% of the Due West congregation who voted to remain United Methodist. While I am still in mourning over the vote, I am choosing to stay at Due West, and I’d like to tell you my story.
I know I was called by God to join Due West. I visited other area churches when I moved to the area, but when I arrived at Due West, people sought me out to get to know me as an individual. I will never forget that moment when I felt God telling me during the service: “This is where I need you to be right now.” And who am I to second-guess the Holy Spirit? I was not looking for a perfect Church, which is good because they don’t exist… Neither do perfect leaders or denominations. What IS perfect is God’s grace, and I felt -and still feel- God’s grace here. And I can extend God's grace by loving, accepting, and serving others here.
Since joining Due West, I have received countless affirmations that this is the place I need to be. When I see the needs of the community around me, and realize that I am able to fill a need that others cannot, it’s beautiful. God has equipped each of us with unique abilities and ways of thinking so that every person may be reached in ways that will allow them to respond to the Gospel. That means that regardless of affiliation, I see the congregation at Due West continuing to live out the phrase “open hearts, open minds, open doors” on a personal ministry level. Part of God’s grace is meeting others where they are and embracing our differences.
I recognize that staying at Due West as a progressive may not be the easiest decision. But I know that I have a purpose here. I also know that I am called to serve my community and my church, not the other way around. Due West has so much value as a church in this community. When I see all of the good, inclusive, heartfelt, and hopeful ministry that I can be a part of by staying here at Due West, I know that I’ve made the right choice. These valuable ministries give all of us a purpose. Let’s find some common ground and continue to serve the Lord together.
-A Progressive Due West Member
Week 49 added 10/15/2023
“Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Phillipians 2:4
We as a church continue to reach out to people in need locally, nationally, and internationally day in and day out. We are blessed to have both staff and laity committed to mission work throughout the year.
But we as a church have financial obligations beyond those commitments. As a reminder, we need to raise $220,000 in disaffiliation fees and related expenses by November 30 to ensure that our church can disaffiliate according to the Book of Discipline and the parameters established by our North Georgia Annual Conference.
As of today, we have made great progress raising $90,000 with more that has been pledged. We also know several people are waiting for the November 18th vote of the Annual Conference. (Please keep that vote in your prayers.) We are grateful to those who have already stepped forward to support this effort. But we can’t afford to fall short. Many of our members who are over 70 1/2 years of age can contribute by requesting a qualified charitable donation from their IRA investments, eliminating the income tax normally assessed. This approach takes time to process so time is of the essence. Please write “disaffiliation fund” on the memo line of all checks.
Your leadership is confident in our collective ability to raise these funds, but we encourage you not to delay. Some have decided to contribute only after November 18, when the called Annual Conference vote occurs to confirm our disaffiliation decision. If the Conference were to somehow deny our disaffiliation, funds contributed to this effort will be returned to donors at their discretion. So, waiting makes no sense to the faithful.
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” - Matthew 18:20
On another note, if you donated a United Methodist Hymnal and would like to come and retrieve one, please drop by the office.
Week 48 added 9/28/2023
As we seek to keep the congregation up to date on the disaffiliation process, we want you to know there is much work going on behind the scenes.
You read that before the vote, a Task Force looked at our future landing place. The moment we are officially disaffiliated, at midnight on November 30th (pending the conference vote on November 18), we will be independent from the United Methodist Church. We have already started the process to incorporate as Due West Methodist Church. As we will be an independent church starting on December 1st, our Ad Board recently voted to continue as an independent church for the future short term (6-12 months). We feel it is important to take our time before making the next step and joining a denomination. Ultimately, the decision will be made by the congregation with a recommendation from the Admin Board.
All of this activity requires much legal work. The costs for these activities were covered by individual donations earlier this calendar year when we voted to join the lawsuit. The same firm that handled that case is helping us with this transition. There is much more work that must be done by staff and members of Due West and we are grateful for everyone's efforts.
Due West is going to continue being the church it has always been for the past 50 years. We will have great programs in missions, youth, music, support, young families, and more. Our mission will not change - Inviting our community to join us as we gather together, grow in Jesus Christ, and go serve.
Week 47 added 9/21/2023
As we continue trying to inform the congregation on the process and progress of disaffiliation, we want everyone to understand the importance of November 18th, 2023. Even after churches vote to exit the United Methodist Church, those decisions must be approved by a simple majority of its Annual Conference. In 2022, 70 churches voted to disaffiliate and at the meeting of the Annual Conference, their decision was approved by a majority that exceeded 90%. Going into 2023, only two disaffiliating churches were in the pipeline to be approved by the Annual Conference before the “pause” was instituted by our Bishop. The Annual Conference approved their departure by a 55-45 majority. Since a Cobb County Superior Court Judge ruled against the Annual Conference’s right to “pause” disaffiliation voting, approximately 200 churches have held Church Conferences since. On November 18th, there will be a called session to approve or disapprove of disaffiliation decisions of these churches, including Due West.
Please keep this meeting in your prayers as we go forward. The prayer is that delegates to the Annual Conference will respect the decisions made by the laity of local churches. And as always, know that we continue to be the church. We continue to believe all of us are sinners in need of God’s grace and that everyone is welcomed and loved here at Due West!
Week 46 added 9/17/2023
As everyone is aware, Due West voted on August 27th to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church. Many people have asked thoughtful questions about what this means and what the process will be. We will be attempting to answer some of those as we return to weekly emails.
I wanted to write this first one to share with all of you what I shared with the staff and the Administrative Board the day after the vote. I believe we have two priorities in these days. One is to focus on being the church. The impending vote, the “pause”, the lawsuit, and the impending vote again have all consumed time and energy. While that is understandable, it is also a painful reminder that all of that time and energy was not focused on being the church. I know we never stopped being the church, but it did not have all of our focus. Now, it should. The other priority is the 19%. The vote was 81% - 19%. While that is a clear majority, the 19% remain vitally important. If you are in the minority, please hear me say that you have always been and always will be loved and needed here. Due West is stronger with you. If you are part of the majority, I trust that you not only agree but that you will be displaying that conviction in all of your interactions.
In weeks to come, you will hear more from others about progress, goals, and deadlines. But for this one, I wanted the opportunity to say we need to love each other and be the church.
In Christ,
David
Week 45 added 8/25/23
Dear Friends and Family of Due West,
We are sending this letter to inform you of the result from yesterday’s church conference. After careful prayer and discernment, members of Due West voted to proceed with disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church. 81% of members present for the vote cast ballots in favor of disaffiliation. There were 412 votes in favor of disaffiliating and 97 votes for remaining with the denomination. A 67% supermajority was required to continue seeking disaffiliation.
We want to express our gratitude to all those who have been praying for guidance throughout this process. While our vote represents a significant step, it is important to note that Due West will continue to be affiliated with the United Methodist Church as we progress toward our expressed desire for disaffiliation. According to the terms prescribed in the disaffiliation contract, the process is not complete until there is a majority vote at the special called session of the North Georgia Conference on November 18, 2023. Provided our disaffiliation request is ratified by that called session, our relationship with the United Methodist Church will end by the end of the calendar year.
We want to assure our congregation and the broader community that our decision is rooted in our deep love for Christ and a desire to serve Him faithfully. As we move forward, we remain steadfast in our commitment to praying for God's blessing over the United Methodist Church and our congregation, as well as other churches facing similar decisions. We have a shared theological heritage that is important to us all.
We know not everyone was happy with the vote. We believe that going forward, Due West will continue to be the same church you joined. It will continue to be the same church you came to love and that loved you before you walked in the door. We ask that you prayerfully consider staying for a while and seeing if your experience in the future matches this conviction. You are important to us, and we want the opportunity for you to see that in action.
As a reminder, Pastor David shared last week that he will miss next Sunday. He will be preaching at the church of his oldest daughter’s family and baptizing his grandson. His absence has absolutely nothing to do with the vote.
Please join us in seeking God's wisdom, guidance, and unity as we continue to move through this process. We are grateful for the love and fellowship we have experienced as a part of the United Methodist Church, and we are committed to honoring our shared history. As we move forward, we will continue to welcome, appreciate, and love everyone in and through Due West. Our mission remains the same: Inviting our community to join us as we gather together, grow in Jesus Christ, and go serve. We need you now as much as ever as we seek to share the good news of Jesus Christ with a lost and lonely world.
Continue to keep Due West in your prayers as we move into the future.
Week 44 added 8/24/23
Our last pre-vote email is on disaffiliation obligations. You can read below. But just a few reminders about the vote on Sunday. This vote is only about disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church. Please come having prayerfully considered your reasons of conscience to vote “yes” or “no” to that. We will not be voting on what comes next. That will be decided later, by the entire congregation.
PLEASE ARRIVE BETWEEN 3:00pm AND 3:15pm! Registration will take time and the doors will be closed at 4pm.
Bring your picture identification.There will be a nursery in the lower level of Building A.
There will be a visitors section marked in the sanctuary.
In order to keep everyone in air conditioning, the line will run through the sanctuary. You will enter the line through the sanctuary doors closest to the Burnt Hickory side of the building.
Please be in prayer for the future of Due West!
Disaffiliation Obligations
If we as a church vote to disaffiliate on August 27, 2023, there are several items that have financial implications.
A. Per North Georgia Annual Conference guidelines and paragraph 2553 of our Book of Discipline, Due West is financially obligated to pay:
Apportionments through November 2023 and 12 months of additional apportionments through November 2024, estimated to be $105,185.
Our portion of an existing unfunded pension liability, $97,404.83, based upon a calculation provided by Wespath.
$5,100 in ministry grants issued by the Annual Conference to Due West from 12-1-2019 to 11-23-2023.
The total of these fees (estimated to be $207,689.83) are to be paid to the UMC after November 18, 2023, but no later than December 30, 2023.
B. Per North Georgia Annual Guidelines Due West must continue to pay our Pastor through December 31, 2023.
C. The cost of removing the flame from atop Building C and removing all Cross and Flame logos from literature, signage, website, etc., is estimated to be $3-5,000.
D. The cost of changing our name and related legal documents is covered by our agreement with NCLL, the attorneys who represented us in the recent lawsuit and who will continue to represent us on all legal matters into the foreseeable future.
Only items B and D are already budgeted or paid for. Therefore, the remaining estimated expenses must be raised by the congregation if we are to fulfill our financial obligations upon potential disaffiliation. These obligations would normally be paid out over time on a monthly basis, rather than a lump sum as required for disaffiliation. Your church leadership has anticipated and prepared for this obligation by taking a straw poll of members who are willing to step forward to cover these anticipated costs. Leadership is confident that the funds needed to disaffiliate can be raised.
It must be noted here that a significant number of members (as surveyed in last year’s town hall meetings) indicated that they would leave the UMC if disaffiliation were not approved. Retaining our existing staff and ministries under those circumstances would probably prove to be financially unfeasible. However, if the vote goes toward disaffiliation the future will be no cakewalk either. Those leaving the UMC will still be faced with challenges, although expected to be much fewer. Standing up for what you believe is never easy. Sacrifices will be necessary, but those committed to step up and continue “being the church at Due West” will be sustained by their faith in God and his son Jesus Christ.
If, on August 27, 2023, Due West votes to disaffiliate we will inform the congregation as to how they may participate in fulfilling our financial obligations during the remainder of 2023 and beyond.
Week 43 added 8/17/23
As Methodists, we are part of an organization that has a long history of denominational splintering over differing opinions. Since the Methodist movement began in 1784, Methodist churches have splintered over things like: slavery, war, laypeople representation, roles of women, and segregation just to name a few topics. Methodist Episcopal Church South, Salvation Army, Pilgrim Holiness Church, Evangelical Wesleyan Church, Evangelical United Brethren Church , AME Church, Free Methodist, Southern Methodist, Wesleyan Church, and Nazarene Church are just some of the denominations that splintered from the Methodist movement.
The United Methodist Church as we know it formed in 1968. This was in large part to address racial segregation by abolishing the all-black Central Jurisdiction. The UMC was the result of a merger between the Evangelical United Brethren Church and The Methodist Church.
A major question for Due West is: if we disaffiliate from the UMC, where could we land? There are many options that would hold true to our Wesleyan tradition. A few denominations that might make a good landing place for Due West include: Free Methodist, Southern Methodist, Wesleyan Church, and Nazarene Church. These are all fine denominations that have their own merits.
Another option would be a new denomination called the Global Methodist Church. This denomination has an organizational structure that is similar to the UMC. Their theology is grounded in scripture, the Apostle's Creed, and traditional Methodist beliefs. The vision of the Global Methodist Church is “to join God in a journey of bringing new life, reconciliation, and the presence of Christ to all people, and to helping each person reflect the character of Christ.” In July 2023, the Global Methodist Church reported 3,000 churches have already joined the denomination. You can learn more about the Global Methodist Church at https://globalmethodist.org/.
Yet another possible landing place could be for Due West to become an independent church. We could hold true to Wesleyan tradition, and define our theology by Scripture, the Apostle's and Nicene Creeds, and traditional Methodist beliefs. Additionally, we could retain ownership of all property and assets. This option would provide us with some of the greatest flexibility while keeping our traditions intact.
The Due West Admin Board Chair has assigned a study committee to compare and contrast these and other options should Due West decide to disaffiliate. We believe there is wisdom in taking several months to make this decision. We are under no time pressure to rush to a decision. Ultimately, the decision will be made by the congregation with a recommendation from the Admin Board.
Regardless of the results of the disaffiliation vote, we do know this, Due West is going to continue being the church it has always been for the past 50 years. No matter where we land denominationally, we will have great programs in missions, youth, music, support, young families, and more. Our mission will not change - Inviting our community to join us as we gather together, grow in Jesus Christ, and go serve.
Week 42 added 8/10/23
Our church conference on disaffiliation is August 27th at 4:00 pm in the North campus sanctuary, Building A. The doors will open at 3:00 pm and close at 4:00 pm. No one will be admitted after 4:00 pm. Please arrive no later than 3:15 pm so that there is time to check-in. The nursery will be available for families that would need it. There is also a 24-hour Prayer Vigil taking place this Saturday that you can sign up for here.
This week we share information that the North Georgia Conference Board of Trustees directs churches voting on disaffiliation to communicate with the congregation. Our church leadership team agrees with the importance of congregational knowledge of this information and is already addressing each item.
A church that disaffiliates:
Will be responsible for hiring its own pastor(s) and for paying their salary and benefits.
Due West Response: Pastor(s) salary and benefits are currently paid by Due West. Our current Director of Discipleship, Sam Gindlesberger, was hired without the assistance of the conference.
Will have to remove the words “United Methodist” and the cross and flame symbol from the property, any printed material, and the website.
Due West Response: Due West will comply.
Will need to turn in United Methodist hymnals.
Due West Response: Due West will comply.
Will need to legally change the church name which may require a filing with the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.
Due West Response: Our legal representatives, National Center for Life and Liberty, would assist with all legal matters.
Will need to update the name on all bank accounts, utility accounts, insurance, loans, service contracts, leases, etc.
Due West Response: Due West will comply.
Will need to obtain its own property, casualty, general liability, worker’s compensation, and other kinds of insurance.
Due West Response: These insurance products are already Due West’s responsibilities.
Will need to provide adequate documentation to the Annual Conference verifying that the local church has satisfied all its debts, loans and liabilities or assigned/transferred them to its new entity.
Due West Response: Due West will comply.
Will lose the protection of the trust clause for the real property, which means that after disaffiliation the leadership of your church could sell the property or use it for another purpose without the concurrence of the church membership.
Due West Response: While this is a very remote possibility, the trust clause is not the only protection that can be used. Church bylaws would provide the same protection.
Will covenant with the North Georgia Annual Conference to refrain from making any disparaging or defamatory remarks or comment whatsoever about the other or the other’s ministers, members or employees, whether oral or in writing, that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the reputation of the other.
Due West Response: Due West will comply.
Week 41 added 8/2/23
Our church conference on disaffiliation is August 27th at 4:00 pm in the North campus sanctuary, Building A. The doors will open at 3:00 pm and close at 4:00 pm. No one will be admitted after 4:00 pm. Please plan to arrive at 3:00 pm. The nursery will be available for families that would need it. The conference will be officiated by our district superintendent or her designee. At that conference bonafide members of Due West UMC (ID required) will be offered a ballot. A sample of the ballot is below. We can not change the ballot. It is dictated by the Annual Conference. The Annual Conference requires a ⅔ majority of the members present for a church to be allowed to disaffiliate. That majority is defined as ⅔ of the ballots given out, not ⅔ of those turned in. That means if you take a ballot and turn it in blank, or do not turn it in, that will be counted as a vote not to disaffiliate; a “No” vote. For those who attend, but want to abstain, the only way to abstain is to not take a ballot. Proxy votes are not allowed.
In voting for disaffiliation, the ballot provided in 2022 looked like this:
Do you want the __________ UMC to disaffiliate from the UMC for reasons of conscience regarding a change in the requirements and provisions of the Book of Discipline related to the practice of homosexuality or the ordination or marriage of self-avowed practicing homosexuals as resolved and adopted by the 2019 General Conference, or the actions or inactions of its annual conference related to these issues which follow as provided in Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline?
If you would like for Due West to leave the UMC, you would vote “Yes.” If you would like Due West to remain in the UMC, vote “No.”
Before going any further, we want to state clearly that for years Due West has had active gay, lesbian and transgender members. The goal has always been that everyone at Due West is loved, welcomed and valued. We have always sought to practice that and our leadership is committed to always doing so. We have been active, and going forward will remain active, in ministry with groups such as Lost and Found, a ministry for LGBTQ teens. Our leadership is committed to being the hands, feet and voice of Jesus for all.
The ballot emphasizes you have only one central reason for wanting to leave the UMC (the issue of human sexuality). However, our former bishop stated, “I find that no ruling of law is required because the North Georgia Annual Conference Board of Trustees has indicated that it will not question ‘the reasons of conscience’ behind a church’s decision to disaffiliate. If the church sets forth this paragraph in the call for the called church conference, and the church conference is held fairly and in conformance with the BOD, and the motion contains the language of this paragraph and is duly voted upon, the Board of Trustees will not pursue any inquiry into the ‘reasons of conscience’ behind the vote.” This was upheld by the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church (the supreme court).
So, while the central reason for voting is positioned as human sexuality, issues of conscience are not to be questioned. In other words, for the many people who have multiple other concerns, the question is not just, “Do you want to leave for this one reason?” but “Do you want to leave for other reasons?” Therefore, if you have frustrations with the denomination, its leadership and the lack of accountability, those are reasons of conscience.
Most important is that each member of Due West UMC uses this opportunity to voice their wishes for the future of our church by voting on August 27th.
Week 40 published 7/27/23
This week we look at two non-binding resolutions that were passed at the North Georgia Annual Conference in early June. Both resolutions are worth consideration in the discernment process and demonstrate the direction of the North Georgia Conference.
Resolution 702. Affirmation of the Queer Delegates’ call to Center Justice and Empowerment for LGBTQIA+ People in the UMC implores our Annual Conference to either not pursue, hold in abeyance, or resolve in a timely fashion through a process of just resolution any complaints against clergy regarding their sexual orientation or the officiating of weddings of LGBTQIA+ persons.
Resolution 791, Encouraging Leadership with Integrity, states this: Be it further resolved that the North Georgia Annual Conference asks all lay and clergy members who intend to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church to recuse themselves from leadership roles in all areas of the church, including the local church, district, conference, jurisdictional, and general church level committees, boards, agencies, delegations, and episcopal leaders.
These non-binding resolutions, which both passed with a substantial margin, provide insight to the current direction of our annual conference.
Week 39 added 7/20/23
While we hope all members of Due West have had the opportunity to read and thoughtfully reflect upon all 38 weekly discernment letters dating back to September 1, 2022, we recognize that life can get in the way. With that said, this letter is intended to bring focus to exactly how we finally got to where we are today – on the precipice of a very important vote about our future as a church.
The story really starts long before our first discernment letter. After decades of squabbling between traditional, progressive, and even centrist elements within the United Methodist Church concerning the issue of ordination of homosexual clergy and same-sex marriage rites, a special General Conference (The church’s top law-making body of the Church} was called in 2019 to settle the issue. The issue from a progressive point of view was not settled as the vote taken retained the existing Book of Discipline language regarding homosexuality as a sin and confirming marriage between a man and a woman only.
Recognizing the ongoing tension, Paragraph 2553 was passed by the Conference to allow any church (be it progressive, traditional, etc.) to disaffiliate providing it pay a fee composed of existing and an additional year of apportionments and a portion of an old unfunded pension obligation. This option would expire 12-31-2023. Following the General Conference, a widely diverse group of United Methodist leaders endorsed a document called the Protocol of Grace and Reconciliation through Separation which looked like an even better solution to the tension among all sides.
In 2020, the General Conference was to vote on this proposed Protocol, a plan that would give churches who felt called to leave The UMC the ability to do so with property intact. Because of the global pandemic, the General Conference was postponed to 2021, then 2022, and now 2024. With the latter postponement to 2024, it became obvious to your leadership and many in the congregation at Due West that things were unraveling institutionally. It was time for leadership to take the pulse of our congregation. Six informational meetings were advertised and conducted during the months of May and June 2022. Issues of institutional dysfunction among congregations and clergy nationwide were discussed as violations of the Book of Discipline were often ignored by those responsible for its enforcement. While our town hall meeting surveys would be considered anything but scientific, the results left no doubt as to the feelings of most participants. A significant majority wanted the opportunity to vote for disaffiliation and equally important to note was the fact that many of those same proponents of disaffiliation would leave Due West if we remained within the United Methodist Church. Your Administrative Board analyzed those results and voted to move forward with the process ultimately calling for a Church Conference as per the revised agreement and disaffiliation process approved by the North Georgia Annual Conference on June 3, 2022. Your church here at Due West followed those procedures to the letter including a scheduled opportunity for our District Superintendent, Central West Lay Leader, and North Georgia Conference Bishop to present their thoughts regarding staying United Methodist. That meeting was widely attended on October 3, 2022.
Following North Georgia Conference protocol, your Administrative Board voted on October 24, 2022, to request a Due West Church Conference to be scheduled sometime in March or April of 2023. That Church conference would determine if Due West would disaffiliate from the UMC by a 2/3 vote. While it was apparent that members wanted the opportunity to vote on the issue of disaffiliation, voting to leave or stay was going to be difficult for all concerned. That is why your leadership continued to offer resources during October and early November that discussed both sides of the issue.
Unfortunately, our Bishop on December 28, 2022 applied a “pause” to all subsequent church disaffiliation procedures in the North Georgia Conference until after the expiration of Paragraph 2553 on 12-31-23 and likely after the 2024 General Conference. Her explanation? The massive misinformation campaign which she perceived to be rampant throughout the Conference. Your Administrative Board vehemently protested this decision in a letter dated January 2, 2023. An open forum was scheduled for January 29, 2023, to discuss options left for our church. Following that congregational meeting your Administrative Board voted overwhelmingly to 1) Form an Ad Hoc Committee to execute a Congregational petition to the North Georgia Conference Board of Trustees requesting an opportunity to vote on disaffiliation in accordance with the Book of Discipline paragraph 2553, 2) Authorize the Board of Trustees to explore what is necessary to pursue a vote under paragraph 2553 of the United Methodist Book of Discipline including the hiring of lawyers and litigation and 3) continue to abide by our Book of Discipline in paying apportionments.
From February 12 through March 5, 2023, an ad hoc committee collected 408 signatures of members who strongly opposed the pause and wanted to have our right to vote restored. That petition was prayerfully delivered to the offices of the North Georgia Annual Conference in Atlanta on March 5, 2023. It was never acknowledged or responded to by the Bishop or Board of Trustees.
Later in March your Administrative Board voted (by a 78% majority) to join the National Center for Life and Liberty (NCLL), along with 185 other North Georgia churches, making us eligible to be a part of any suit filed against the Annual Conference over the decision to “pause” votes on disaffiliation. The legal team met with leaders from the Annual Conference and presented a proposal that would avoid any litigation and allow churches the opportunity to vote. That approach failed and so a lawsuit was filed on March 30, 2023. A hearing was granted before the Superior Court of Cobb County on May 16, 2023. Judge J. Steven Schuster ruled that United Methodist churches have a limited right to vote on disaffiliation, based on the terms already established in the Book of Discipline. Given that ruling, the 186 churches that have requested the option to vote must be allowed to do so. As a result, the North Georgia Annual Conference began to schedule church conferences including ours, set for August 27, 2023. Sadly, it took a lawsuit to restore our God-given right to vote.
This arduous journey has tested you and your leadership. It has tested our faith in institutions. It has even tested our beliefs. Many of us feel like we have been wandering in the desert like the Israelites under Moses. Uncertainties continue to abound. As we approach our time to vote on August 27, we encourage our members to pray endlessly and vote their conscience based upon what they believe the Lord is calling them to do.
Where do we go once the vote is tallied? If we vote to disaffiliate, it may be a bridge too far for some. If we vote to stay within the UMC, it likewise may be a bridge too far. Whichever way the vote takes us we need to continue to be the church, continue doing what we already do and then re-doubling our efforts to invite our community of West Cobb neighbors to gather and worship together, grow in Jesus Christ, and go serve the needs of mankind.
Week 38 added 7/13/23
Another question we are asked amidst the disaffiliation discussions is where do our pastors stand and how do we ensure their interests are taken care of?
Our pastoral staff has been upfront from the start of the disaffiliation discussions that Due West belongs to the laity of the church. The appointed pastors are not members of our congregation therefore they have chosen to be neutral parties in the process. Our pastors also have strong convictions that they are to minister to the whole congregation and they do not want to jeopardize that calling.
How can a church protect the interest of their pastors if they disaffiliate? Any church that does disaffiliate and then joins another Wesleyan denomination per the terms of para 2553;
“Disaffiliating Churches Continuing as Plan Sponsors of the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits Plans. The United Methodist Church believes that a local church disaffiliating under ¶2553 shall continue to share common religious bonds and convictions with The United Methodist Church based on shared Wesleyan theology and tradition and Methodist roots, unless the local church expressly resolves to the contrary. As such, a local church disaffiliating under ¶ 2553 para shall continue to be eligible to sponsor voluntary employee benefit plans through the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits under ¶ 1504.2, subject to the applicable terms and conditions of the plans.”
Our Administrative Board Chair has commissioned a group of church leaders to study other Wesleyan denominations that Due West would consider if we disaffiliate. Their findings will be reported back to the Administrative Board in August for discussions and direction. Pastor’s pensions will be a priority.
Please pray for our pastoral staff during this time since it also is a time of anxiety for them just as it is for us. The fact is our pastors will have choices. They can stay with the UMC or move on with the congregation if we disaffiliate. We have already experienced that it is a time of competition for Methodist ministers in that our associate minister was called to another church last year. So our pastors could be tempted to act on a call from another church at any point in this process, so continue to show them your love and support.
The good news is that Pastor David thanked our district superintendent at the June 4th Annual Charge Conference for honoring his request to be appointed to Due West for another year.
Week 37 added 6/29/23
This week we explore some reasons to stay UMC
“Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.”
~John Wesley
The United Methodist Church is not perfect, and like most denominations, there have been disagreements and decline. The existence of disagreement and decline is not a new phenomenon. One of the things that has made The United Methodist Church unique is our ability to agree to disagree.
For years, The United Methodist Church has used the slogan, “Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.” We have always welcomed everyone to the communion table recognizing that the table belongs to God, not us. We have always acknowledged that all persons are of sacred worth. We have always affirmed that the essence of being a Christian is loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves. And in the face of differences, we have always recognized that we are called to worship together and spread the love of Christ.
So why would we stay UMC in the midst of all this turmoil?
The General Conference of the United Methodist Church was supposed to meet in 2020. When the pandemic came about, it was delayed until 2021, then 2022, and now has been delayed until 2024. It is still possible that the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation (Protocol) may be passed at the General Conference in 2024. However, in the absence of such legislation, there are lots of questions as to what choosing another option would entail.
More important than the absence of the Protocol legislation, is that The United Methodist Church is our home. Many of us were baptized in The UMC. Many of us have grown up in The UMC and supported it. Others have been to summer campers at Camp Glisson and have attended United Methodist colleges and/or were part of a Wesley Foundation. Many of us and our children were confirmed in the UMC, and it is where a lot of us first experienced a personal relationship with Christ. The UMC has always embraced the reality that we don’t all think alike. This honesty only strengthens our commitment to Christ and our bonds with each other.
We acknowledge that The UMC has issues that often get in the way of what we are called to do: love God and love our neighbors. Our focus should be on bringing people to Jesus and being a staple of the community of West Cobb. All denominations have issues that stem from differences among individuals. There will always be these differences of opinion. However, when our focus is solely on God and spreading the message of His love, then nothing is more important.
Week 36 added 6/22/23
This week we explore some reasons to vote for disaffiliation; next week we will explore some reasons to stay UMC:
In his book, And Are We Yet Alive?, published 37 years ago, Bishop Richard Wilke wrote, “We are in trouble, you and I, and our United Methodist Church. Once we were a Wesleyan revival, full of enthusiasm, fired by the Spirit, running the race set before us like a sprinter trying to win the prize. Now we are tired, listless, fueled only by the nostalgia of former days.” He concluded chapter one with these challenging words: “God may not have need of the vine called United Methodist in America. He can raise up other groups. Christ can lop off branches that have no fruit. He can cut down our vine if it fails to produce.”
Over the past 37 years, traditionalists have seen the UMC move away from our Wesleyan roots. Sometimes the movement has been slow and subtle, almost undetected. But, at other times, like in 2016, the movement has been abrupt and highly visible. That was the year that Karen Olivet, an open lesbian, was elected as Bishop in our Western Jurisdiction, in violation of the UMC Book of Discipline. The top court in the UMC ruled that this was a violation of the Discipline but took no action. Since then, many annual conferences have gone on record that they will disregard the Book of Discipline prohibition of same-sex marriages and the ordination of practicing gay clergy.
In 2019 there was a called session of the General Conference to decide whether or not to change the language of the Book of Discipline on human sexuality. When the vote was to retain the language forbidding the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” as was the prohibition of same-sex marriage, paragraph 2553 which defines the disaffiliation process was passed.
The initial idea was that more progressive churches could leave because they did not like the church’s stance on human sexuality. But following that vote, many annual conferences decided to ignore the doctrine of the church with no repercussions. Consequently, many of the more traditional congregations felt compelled to leave and paragraph 2553, written for more progressive churches, began to be used. For churches who choose to disaffiliate, it is the most direct option available and there are no guarantees of future options.
Some people in the church see this as a single-issue disagreement because it’s the only issue that has surfaced in the media and is even referenced in paragraph 2553. However, when the layers are peeled back, an even more critical disagreement becomes apparent over the authority of scripture and who Jesus is. A good place to look for additional information is to go to the Facebook page of Rev. Rob Renfoe. He is the retired lead pastor of the 15,000-member Woodlands Methodist Church in Texas.
To some, it would appear that the more traditional churches have chosen to leave the UMC when in reality, traditionalists believe it is the UMC that has left them. Disaffiliation, while a heart-breaking process, provides an opportunity for Due West to continue vibrant ministry in West Cobb in a truly Wesleyan tradition.
Week 35 added 6/14/23
This week, we wanted to take an opportunity to address some questions several people have asked. They’re related to the accuracy of our church membership rolls. Like most United Methodist Churches, Due West has far more people on the membership roll than we have people who are active. Over the years, people have joined the church. Some of them have drifted away or moved to other churches. When a church writes to us and requests us to transfer someone’s membership, we of course do that. When members ask to be removed from our rolls, we honor that request. If one of those two things do not happen, we can move them to “inactive”, but they are still on the membership roll.
Why is this a question? For many years, our annual apportionments were based, in part, on our membership. Remember, apportionments are our support of the budget of our local annual conference as well as the denomination overall. However, membership has not been a factor in apportionments for many years now. Also, at any Church Conference, every full member of our church has a vote, both active and inactive.
Can the church remove those who are inactive? The answer is yes, but it is a lengthy process. The first step would be to develop a list of people we believe are totally inactive. We are then required to try and contact them and try to get them active again. If that fails, we ask if they are willing to have their names removed. If they say “Yes,” we can remove them. If we cannot find them, and have made good faith attempts to locate them, then we must read their names at an annual Charge Conference for three straight years. If no more information is discovered, only then can we remove them. At this point, we have not begun that process. It can be done, but it is time-consuming and labor-intensive.
We hope this has answered some of your questions regarding the church roles. If you have further questions and/or would like to inquire about your membership status please call the church at 770-427-3835. As always, please continue to pray for the church.
Week 34 added 6/1/23
As we prayerfully approach the church conference vote on disaffiliation scheduled for August 27th we wanted to talk about eligible voters. If you have joined Due West, you can vote. If you have attended for years, but not formally joined, you are not eligible. Also, the North Georgia Conference will provide a representative at every church to confirm that the person getting a ballot has a valid ID that corresponds to their name on the church membership roster. They have assured us that common nicknames will be accepted. If you are unsure of your membership status, please contact the church office. Thank you.
Week 33 added 5/25/23
We are grateful that past roadblocks preventing our church and over 180 others in the North Georgia Conference from voting to stay or leave the UMC per paragraph 2553 appear to have been lifted. We can now clearly see a way forward. Judge J. Stephen Schuster’s ruling on May 16th agreed with all four points of our collective litigation. His order granting preliminary injunction is attached. The judge ordered the District Superintendents to immediately call a church conference for all Plaintiff Churches and preside over their voting. “The Defendant’s pause has caused this time crisis and they must remedy it.” In addition, the Court found “that the Plaintiffs seeking to disaffiliate under paragraph 2553 and 248 of the Book of Discipline are entitled to a church-level vote, to receive a valuation, and to bring the matter before the Annual Conference. The parties must respect the right to a ‘gracious exit.’”
The North Georgia Conference has responded to the order by scheduling all of the Church Conferences during June, July, and August. Our Church Conference is scheduled for Sunday, August 27th at 4:00 pm (location to be announced later). Since the regularly scheduled Annual Conference on June 1 could not possibly address all of the potential disaffiliation votes, the Conference has now called a Special Annual Conference on November 18th to formally vote upon the departure of disaffiliating churches. Those voting at the Special Annual Conference will be composed of lay delegates and clergy members (active and retired) from all NGUMC churches who were delegates to the June 1st Annual Conference meeting.
All churches party to the litigation are presently considered in good standing and we want to insure we stay in good standing throughout the remainder of this process by following the discernment procedures published on the NGUMC website. By following these procedures, and paying our apportionments our church will stay in good standing ensuring us a vote in August and a favorable outcome at the Special Annual Conference if we do vote to disaffiliate.
It is important to realize members of Due West are not all of the same mind regarding the disaffiliation issue, so we all should remain gracious for this opportunity to determine Due West’s future. We do not know what the outcome of our vote will be in August. We do know that each member must take the time to discern what is on their heart regarding the issues. Leadership will provide opportunities between now and August 27th to share additional information and for members to express their thoughts. We pray for all as we go to God for guidance. Our future is in His hands.
Week 32 added 5/17/23
As you know, Due West has been one of the churches involved in legal action pursuing the right to vote on disaffiliation promised by the 2019 General Conference. On Tuesday, May 16th, Judge J. Steven Schuster ruled that United Methodist churches have a limited right to vote on disaffiliation, based on the terms already established in the Book of Discipline. Given that ruling, the 186 churches that have requested the option to vote must be allowed to do so. Other terms, such as when an Annual Conference meeting will occur to ratify those votes, are left to be decided. As we have often said, this does not say that any church is leaving or not leaving. It says that the churches in the suit will have the opportunity to vote.
As soon as the Annual Conference releases a schedule, we will let you know. The other two churches in North Georgia that received a similar ruling in the last few weeks have already had a Church Conference.
Please continue to pray for our congregation and our Annual Conference.
Week 31.75 added 5/15/23
As was announced last week, there is a court hearing for the lawsuit tomorrow. We will have the sanctuary of Building C open from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm for anyone who would like to come in and pray.
Of course, the prayer chapel in Building A is open 24 hours a day and there is an exterior entrance on the northwest corner of the building.
But wherever you may be, below are some suggestions for your prayers.
Respectfully,
Eddie Fletcher,
Chair of the Administrative Board
SPECIAL PRAYER GUIDE
for the week of May 14th
Lord Jesus, fill us with your Holy Spirit. Fill all of us together. Fill each of us individually. We want to operate on your power, not our own. Give us a hunger for inviting our community to join us as we gather together, grow in Jesus Christ, and go serve. Be at the center of all we do so we can truly and fully be the church you are calling us to be. Amen.
1) Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. - Romans 12:9-12
Begin your prayers with joy, giving thanks and praise for a God who loves us and who will never leave us.
2) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. - Philippians 4:6
Pray that we will trust God to hear and answer according to His will and desires for His Church. Pray against any spirit of anxiety or fear, as well as against any spirit of bitterness or anger.
3) See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. - Isaiah 43:19
Pray that we might all walk in faith, believing in God’s power to do a new thing. And pray that Conference lawyers and leaders might also begin to sense that God is doing a new thing. Pray that out of this difficult season, we might see a fresh move of God’s Spirit in all our churches.
4) I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. - 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Pray for all Courthouse employees and for our presence among them, that we might only be a blessing and a positive witness. Pray for peace in every conversation.
Pray for Bishop Dease, that God will use her in a mighty way to end this conflict and bring rest to our Conference.
5) Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. - Proverbs 3:5
Pray that we will all place ultimate trust in God for the outcome of this situation in which we find ourselves.
Pray for all of the legal teams involved - whether we receive a favorable ruling on Tuesday or continue engaging with Conference leaders. Pray for faith to contend until God moves.
6) Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:19-21
Pray that God will keep our eyes trained on what is most important and most enduring, so that our only attachment is to Him.
Week 31.5 added 5/12/23
Good evening,
As you know, Due West is one of nearly 200 North Georgia churches involved in legal action with the annual conference to secure the option of a vote that was promised by the 2019 General Conference. We received news today that the request for a hearing has been granted. Here is the announcement:
“It is hereby ordered that each of the parties be and appear before Senior Judge J. Stephen Schuster of the Superior Court of Cobb County Tuesday, May 16th at 9:30 am in Courtroom 4200, of the Superior Court of Cobb County, for a specially set one-day hearing on Plaintiff's Emergency Motion.”
The hearing is open to anyone who would like to attend. We ask everyone to be in prayer. As we have said several times, this hearing does not mean any church is definitely leaving. It simply asks for the right for each church to make their own decision, as promised.
Week 31 added 5/11/23
In the matter of Trinity on the Hill UMC in Augusta, GA (plaintiffs) versus the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church (defendants) the Court issued two orders recently in the case filed in the Superior Court of Columbia County. The first denied a motion by the Conference to dismiss the suit. The second granted Trinity’s motion for an injunction. That order found that the conduct of the Conference, trustees, and district superintendent by instituting the “pause” will cause Trinity irreparable harm unless the Court intervenes. The Court also found Trinity is likely to prevail on the trial of the case. Therefore, the judge ordered the district superintendent to act immediately by calling a church conference for Trinity (May 16, 2023). As a result, the Conference announced it would appeal.
So, what does this mean for Due West UMC and the other 185 churches who are suing the North Georgia Conference separate from the Trinity action? While the ruling only applies to the specific parties in the Trinity case and cannot bind the parties of the larger suit, it certainly applies persuasive authority, meaning it is hard to ignore.
Our attorneys are expeditiously pursuing a date for our own public hearing in Cobb County before or by June 1, 2023. They are also waiting to receive direction from the North Georgia Conference Trustees regarding the details of the Conference’s proposal regarding paragraph 2549, a different way to disaffiliate. Their proposal came after our attorneys offered to settle before filing our present lawsuit.
We recognize this process is long and requires great patience. Thank you for your faithful waiting. As always, further questions, comments, or concerns may be directed to: adminchair@duewest.org or dcampbell@duewest.org. Let us continue to gather together, grow in Jesus Christ, and go and serve.
Week 30 added 5/4/23
Good afternoon Due West Family,
As we continue to await news regarding the legal proceedings, we are spending time in the interlude to press in our walk with Christ. As you may be aware, Pentecost is right around the corner (May 28th). Pentecost is a vital time in the life of the church and a yearly reminder of the necessity of God’s Spirit at work in our lives and our church.
This week we encourage you to watch the following video by retired UMC Bishop James Swanson entitled:
“Inviting the Holy Spirit Back to Church”
Would you like to press in during this upcoming season of Pentecost? Dr. Joe Howell is teaching a 4-week class starting this Sunday called “Rediscovering Pentecost.” The class will meet Sunday evenings from 6:30-7:30 pm in the Choir Room of Building A (May 7th-28th). Come ready to learn and grow!
Week 29 added 4/27/23
Greetings!
As we continue to await further information on the progress and proceedings of the Discernment process, we want to take some time this week to focus on the rich heritage Methodists have on prayer. Prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian and a part of the method of Methodism. One prayer of particular prominence is called the “Wesley Covenant Prayer.” It reads as follows:
“I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”
Early Methodists were expected to pray this prayer every year as a renewal and remembrance of their baptism. We invite you to pray this prayer with us this week. You can also sing this prayer! Click on the following link to hear a musical adaptation of this prayer:
Wesley Prayer (Come Like A Fire Live) - Mark Swayze - Live At Harvest - YouTube
Week 28 added 04/20/23
Greetings!
As we await further updates from the NCLL legal team, we want to take some time this week to consider more of the history and promise of the Methodist movement. Historically a distinctive feature in our tradition is small groups. We invite you to watch the following video where Dr. Kevin Watson describes what Methodist small groups looked like. During a time when it is difficult to know what the future holds, Watson offers the question, “What will we be known for?” As you watch the following video, we invite you to consider how similar and different this picture of Methodism is from your experience. If you are interested in learning more about these groups or joining one yourself email Sam Gindlesberger at samg@duewest.org.
What Methodist Small Groups Looked Like (Kevin Watson) - YouTube
Dr. Kevin Watson is a pastor at First Methodist Waco (TX) and previously a professor at Candler School of Theology (Emory). Watson is one of the denomination’s foremost experts on Wesley’s use of small groups.
Week 27 added 04/13/23
On behalf of 186 churches in the North Georgia Conference, our law firm (NCLL) filed a lawsuit on March 30, 2023 (see attached pdf.) against the Trustees of the N. Georgia Conference of the UMC, the N. Georgia Conference of the UMC, Inc., Sue Halpert-Johnson and Robin Dease individually and in their capacity as Bishop of the UMC and Beth Sanders, Douglas Gilreath, Susan Landry, Greg Porterfield, Michael McQueen, Byron Thomas, Jessica Terrell, and Rodrigo Cruz individually and in their capacity as Superintendents of the N. Georgia Annual Conference of the UMC.
Ten counts were cited against the N. Georgia Conference, the first being Breach of Contract. The Honorable Judge Kellie S. Hill was drawn to hear the case in the Superior Court of Cobb County.
It is hoped that a plaintiff hearing will occur in late May or June. We are in a waiting period during which the Conference can change its mind and all of this could come to an end before coming to a trial. We ask for your patience and continued prayers for all concerned.
Week 26 added 04/06/23
For our discernment email on this Maundy Thursday, we would simply ask that you focus on the love Jesus showed at the Last Supper in the Upper Room. Tomorrow, think of the “love so amazing, so divine” that led Him to the cross, and on Easter, rejoice that He is Risen!
Happy Easter!
Week 25 added 03/30/23
As always, your Administrative Board wants to keep you updated on the latest developments. As you know, we have joined the National Center for Life and Liberty (NCLL), making us eligible to be a part of any suit they file against the Annual Conference over the decision to “pause” votes on disaffiliation. (This is not to say Due West would have left, but would have the right to vote, which had been promised by the General Conference.)
The legal team met with leaders from the Annual Conference with a proposal that would avoid any litigation and allow churches the opportunity to vote. The Annual Conference gave a date by which they would have a response. After some time, the response was a promise by the Annual Conference to offer a fair plan for churches that wanted to leave. They continued the pause on paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline, which was the paragraph allowing disaffiliation. They have said that they will allow votes on paragraph 2548. Under this paragraph, the annual conference actually closes a church and then sells the property at a set price. They have not indicated how they will determine that price, so the offer is theoretical until a process is put in place. A difference between the two paragraphs is: paragraph 2553 requires a 2/3 vote of a church conference while paragraph 2549 requires a simple majority.
In the absence of a clear path with detail from the Annual Conference, a lawsuit is being filed. Two things to understand: First, the Annual Conference has said they will continue to negotiate after the suit is filed. Second, NCLL has said that if and when an offer does come from the Annual Conference, churches who are in the suit and like the offer will have the option to leave and take the offer. Churches in the suit who do not like the offer will continue on with the lawsuit.
These things happen slowly. So we could go stretches without much new news. No one wanted this to wind up in litigation, but it is happening. Please continue to be in prayer for our congregation, our Annual Conference, and our denomination.
Week 24 added 03/23/23
As we have previously shared, our Administrative Council voted to join a group considering potential legal action to secure the opportunity to vote on disaffiliation that was promised to all United Methodist Churches by our General Conference. Please be clear, this was not a vote by the Administrative Council to leave the UMC, but simply to give the entire congregation the opportunity to take that vote. Below is the latest update.
The legal team made a proposal to the Annual Conference that would have secured the opportunity to vote without litigation. The Annual Conference said they would respond by March 16th. In the meeting on that date, the chancellor (conference attorney) said they were working on a proposal that would be ready on March 23rd. So today, the legal team is supposed to receive that proposal and will soon share it with all of the 189 churches involved. Those churches who like the proposal will not go forward with the lawsuit. Those who do not feel it is fair will be free to continue with the lawsuit. For Due West, that decision will be made by our Administrative Council. We will continue to update you as new information becomes available. Also, we wanted you to know that our petition has been delivered to the Annual Conference Office.
Please continue to pray for the church and continue to be the church.
Week 23 added 03/16/23
Next week, we should have an update on the status of the legal conversations between churches in North Georgia and the Annual Conference. A proposal was sent and Conference promised a response in the next few days.
In the meantime, we wanted to talk about Due West being the church. Yesterday, we hosted the Homeless to Home Resource fair. 13 different agencies that help the homeless came together in Building C. Resources and assistance were offered to several families who are right on the brink of having a stable place to live. This was the first event of its kind and it was spearheaded and hosted by Due West. Special thanks to Mark Hellman and Millie Skinner on staff. As well as all the people who provided lunch and volunteered their time. It was a great day of Due West being the church!
Week 22 added 03/09/23
Some of our discernment emails will guide us in remembering and celebrating our history and heritage. This week we have a brief discourse on the Wesleyan understanding of grace. This is adapted from The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2016. Whether you find this material new, or a helpful review we hope you enjoy it. As always, if you have any questions feel free to email info@duewest.org.
Although Wesley shared with many other Christians a belief in grace, justification, assurance, and sanctification, he combined them in a powerful manner to create distinctive emphases for living the full Christian life.
Grace pervades our understanding of Christian faith and life. By grace, we mean the undeserved, unmerited, and loving action of God in human existence through the ever-present Holy Spirit. While the grace of God is undivided, it precedes salvation as "prevenient grace," continues in "justifying grace," and is brought to fruition in "sanctifying grace."
Prevenient Grace—We acknowledge God's prevenient grace, the divine love that surrounds all humanity and precedes any and all of our conscious impulses. This grace prompts our first wish to please God, our first glimmer of understanding concerning God's will, and our "first slight transient conviction" of having sinned against God.
God's grace also awakens in us an earnest longing for deliverance from sin and death and moves us toward repentance and faith.
Justification and Assurance—We believe God reaches out to the repentant believer in justifying grace with accepting and pardoning love. Wesleyan theology stresses that a decisive change in the human heart can and does occur under the prompting of grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
In justification, we are, through faith, forgiven our sins and restored to God's favor. This righting of relationships by God through Christ calls forth our faith and trust as we experience regeneration, by which we are made new creatures in Christ.
This process of justification and new birth is often referred to as conversion. Such a change may be sudden and dramatic, or gradual and cumulative. It marks a new beginning, yet it is part of an ongoing process. Christian experience as personal transformation always expresses itself as faith working by love.
Our Wesleyan theology also embraces the scriptural promise that we can expect to receive assurance of our present salvation as the Spirit "bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."
Sanctification and Perfection—We hold that the wonder of God's acceptance and pardon does not end God's saving work, which continues to nurture our growth in grace. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to increase in the knowledge and love of God and in love for our neighbor.
New birth is the first step in this process of sanctification. Sanctifying grace draws us toward the gift of Christian perfection, which Wesley described as a heart "habitually filled with the love of God and neighbor" and as "having the mind of Christ and walking as he walked."
This gracious gift of God's power and love, the hope and expectation of the faithful, is neither warranted by our efforts nor limited by our frailties.
Week 21 added 03/02/23
We want to take some of our discernment emails to remember and celebrate our history and heritage. This week we have a five-minute video showing the life of John Wesley. For some this might be new, for others, it is a reminder. We hope you enjoy it. Following the video, you might spend some time reflecting on the following questions:
As you consider Wesley’s “heartwarming experience” at Aldersgate, have you had an experience of assurance such as Wesley did?
How you are expressing your faith in the world around you?
After watching this video, do you have additional questions about John Wesley or the history of Methodism? Feel free to email info@duewest.org.
Week 20 added 02/23/2023
In this week’s email, we have two pieces of information we would like to bring to your attention. First, many of you have read our discernment emails and know that our Administrative Council voted to send a petition to our Annual Conference asking for the right for all members of Due West to have the right to vote on our future promised by the General Conference. If you have not signed that petition and would like to, you can do so this coming Sunday morning. At the 8:30 or 9:45 am services, there will be a table on your left in the narthex just past the coffee area. If you are worshipping at 11:00 am, there will be a table in the Gathering Room. There will be someone in the narthex to show you the way. Otherwise, if you would prefer to sign the petition online, you can do so by clicking the link HERE
Secondly, we recognize this process can be heavy on our minds and hearts. Still, our call and mission as a church remains one where Jesus is at the center. Recent events at Asbury University and now other universities throughout the US (and spreading further still), remind us that God is at work; particularly where people are hungry and desperate to see Him move. If you would, take a moment and watch the following video on Spiritual Awakening. If you follow the news and have seen the shooting on the campus of Michigan State, the war in Ukraine or the tragic events in Turkey and Syria, we all agree on the need for awakening. More than anything else, we want to center our minds and hearts on Jesus and be hungry for Him. What Is Spiritual Awakening? (David Thomas) - YouTube
Week 19 added 02/16/2023
Dear sisters and brothers,
I know this is a stressful time for us in this season of discernment. I know there are people, regardless of perspective, who are tired and want to walk away. Please prayerfully consider the following.
The Book of Discipline allows for a process for a vote on disaffiliation. Wherever you stand on that vote, the congregation was told it would have the opportunity. Then we were told we would not. The Administrative Council is working to re-obtain that opportunity. If that happens, I am praying like you that the church will go through the process with love and respect for everyone involved. And I hope that everyone will stay and be a part of that process. If and when a vote is taken, then whichever way someone votes, they need to understand that the prevailing decision belongs to the entire congregation. If people’s personal convictions cannot abide by it, then I understand people could make the painful decision to go somewhere else rather than being in a church that violates their convictions.
But until that happens, I pray that everyone will remain engaged and involved. I believe we are better in this together always, but certainly while we are still in process.
With love and prayers,
David Campbell
Week 18 added 02/09/2023
Last week’s email mentioned a motion approved by our Administrative Council on Monday, January 30th. It read:
We authorize the Board of Trustees to explore what is necessary to pursue a vote under paragraph 2553 of the United Methodist Book of Discipline including the hiring of lawyers and litigation.
Shortly thereafter, more information was received. Our Trustee chair asked us to rephrase the motion. On Sunday, February 5th the Administrative Council approved an updated motion which read:
We authorize the Board of Trustees to engage what is necessary to pursue a vote under paragraph 2553 of the United Methodist Book of Discipline or obtain the right to vote on disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church by other means including the hiring of lawyers and litigation.
The additional information mentioned earlier was access to an action being pursued on behalf of a number of churches in North Georgia. The cost was firmly established. Monies were donated by individuals, so no money will come from the church budget. A group of attorneys in North Georgia had already begun this process. They had looked at and vetted options. Their recommendation was a group called National Center for Life and Liberty. This is a non-profit legal ministry. Their first step is to reach out to the Annual Conference and attempt to come to an agreement without going to court. If that fails, they are willing to enter into a suit. They are already engaged in the process with other Annual Conferences. Our Board of Trustees voted to join that group. This does not commit us to be a party to the suit, but gives us the option to do so. More than a hundred other churches in North Georgia have also taken that step.
The other motion approved by our Administrative Council was to initiate a petition requesting the right to vote to send to the Annual Conference. You will be hearing more about this soon.
Please continue to keep the church in your prayers.
Week 17 added 02/02/2023
As you may be aware, we held an open forum last Sunday afternoon to discuss options since our Annual Conference has hit “pause” on the discernment process. With that feedback, the administrative council voted on three motions at its meeting Monday night.
Number one was passed overwhelmingly. Our Board of Trustees is already gathering information. If you have questions, please send them to info@duewest.org and put “Trustees” in the subject line.
We authorize the Board of Trustees to explore what is necessary to pursue a vote under paragraph 2553 of the United Methodist Book of Discipline including the hiring of lawyers and litigation.
Number two was passed overwhelmingly. This was done Monday night and they will hold their first meeting Sunday afternoon,
Agree to form an Ad Hoc Committee to execute a Congregational petition to the North Georgia Conference Board of Trustees requesting an opportunity to vote on disaffiliation in accordance with the Book of Discipline paragraph 2553.
Number three was defeated unanimously. It was the belief of the Administrative Council that we need to keep our commitments to the Annual Conference in the same that way we are asking members to keep their commitments to Due West.
Request the Finance Committee to adjust the payment schedule of apportionments and hold/pause payments until the end of this year or we obtain a resolution.
Please continue to keep the church in your prayers during these challenging times. Also, continue living out the mission and being the church!
Week 16 added 01/26/2023
Thank you to everyone who participated in the prayer vigil last weekend. And thank you for continuing to remember the church in your prayers.
We will have an open conversation this Sunday, January 29, in the sanctuary of Building A at 4:00 PM. We will begin with a brief update about what we have done as a church and our plans for ministry and mission in 2023. We begin here because we want to continue to be the church even in the midst of uncertainty.
This will be followed by a presentation of options from some of our leadership. The question arises, “Since our Annual Conference has hit ‘pause’ on disaffiliation, what are the next steps in the process? How can our church have a voice?”
That will bring us to our third and final part, hearing from the congregation. We want to know your thoughts and ideas going forward. If you would like to email a question or idea in advance, please send that to info@duewest.org by Saturday evening.
We look forward to seeing you all there.
Week 15 added 01/19/2023
Our 24-hour prayer vigil begins this Saturday at 12 noon. If you have not signed up, please click the link below. And, don’t forget our church-wide meeting in the Sanctuary of Building A on January 29th at 4:00 pm. We will be talking about how we continue to be the church in these days, and the options before us. It will be a time for people to ask questions and share concerns.
Click here to register for the prayer vigil
Prayer Guide
Greetings, Friends!
Thank you so much for agreeing to pray for our church. We believe that God hears our prayers, and responds. We serve a mighty God and prayer helps to recenter us to better partner with Him. Thank you for leaning in.
Please pray for these things:
1. Pray for the Bishop and Cabinet. (1 Timothy 2:1-2):
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
We are called to pray for our leaders and those in authority over us. Here are the names of our Bishop and her cabinet:
Bishop Robin Dease (Resident Bishop)
Nate Abrams (Conference Lay Leader)
Allison Berg
Rodrigo Cruz
Sybil Davidson
Douglas Gilreath
Susan Landry
Michael McQueen
Greg Porterfield
Alice Rogers
Beth Sanders
Jessica Terrell
Byron Thomas
Brian Tillman
Max Vincent
Terry Walton
Blair Zant
Pray for them by name. Pray for their conversations around the disaffiliation process. Pray that grace will prevail. Pray that God will fill them up with wisdom and discernment, and give them a great desire to enter into a new season with a fresh start.
2. Pray that God will purify our motives. We certainly want this time to do more than just get this process unstuck. We want to see a move of the Holy Spirit among faithful followers of Jesus. Pray that we will come to the place of prayer with an open heart, as a learner and listener. Pray that we can be present to this time of prayer with courage and without our own agendas, hurts, or prejudices getting in the way.
3. Pray that we will learn to bear this challenge with joy, choosing life and freedom in the midst of this.
4. Pray that God would strengthen and encourage us, and our witness for Christ in the midst of this. Pray we would live and conduct ourselves in a way that reflects the character of Christ.
5. Pray that God will provide a way through this current situation. Pray for the provision of a balanced and effective plan for moving forward.
6. Pray that this initiative awakens many to the call to stand faithfully, even under pressure. Pray that this season and circumstances awaken us to what is truly important. Namely, our need and dependence on God, His work in our lives and His all-sufficient grace.
Thank you again for praying and seeking the Lord. I would encourage you, also, to use this time to discipline your own conversation around conference matters. To the extent that we can measure our words and act with integrity in both public and private, we surely honor God and give Him the most room to work.
Blessings upon blessings.
Week 14 added 01/12/2023
Last week, we shared the news that the North Georgia Annual Conference has paused the process allowing churches in our conference to vote on the possibility of leaving the United Methodist Church with their property. We also shared the letter sent to our District Superintendent by the chair and vice chair of our Administrative Council. Her response is attached to this email.
Earnest prayers are needed now more than ever. This week, we are including a sign up for another 24-hour prayer vigil. It will be from noon on Saturday, January 21, to noon on Sunday, January 22. Click this link to sign up! Next week, we will provide a prayer guide for that vigil. Also, we know there are many questions and many who want to share concerns. Therefore, we will have an open forum for this conversation on Sunday, January 29, at 4:00 pm in the sanctuary of Building A. Additionally, our Senior Pastor, David Campbell or the Chair of our Administrative Council, Eddie Fletcher are available to discuss any concerns you may have. You can reach David at dcampbell@duewest.org or Eddie at adminchair@duewest.org.
Please know that our leadership wants to do everything we can to keep our congregation together being the church God has called us to be. As always, we are doing our best to be transparent and keep everyone informed. Please know, we are exploring every avenue to ensure we have the opportunity promised us by the General Conference to vote on the future of Due West.
Week 13 added 01/5/2023
Happy New Year! What a year we just finished up. Due West was involved with so many different mission opportunities, worship programs, and church-wide improvements. We really did have a great 2022!
However, last year was not without its challenges. Much time, prayer, and consideration was given to the season of discernment regarding potential disaffiliation from the UMC. As you have read previously, our Administrative Board, based on input we have received from our membership, voted overwhelmingly to ask the North Georgia Annual Conference for the opportunity to vote on this decision.
Unfortunately, as you may have heard, The North Georgia Annual Conference has recently announced that they have “paused” the disaffiliation process. You can read the entire statement here.
The statement mentions waiting until the General Conference of 2024. The option to disaffiliate sunsets at the end of 2023. Therefore, the gist of the pause action is that no additional churches in our conference will have the opportunity to vote on their future. Regardless of how you personally might have voted on disaffiliation, it is upsetting/concerning that we are being denied the opportunity to have a say in this process (particularly when we were led to believe that we would). We are responding by sending a letter to our District Superintendent restating our request to move forward with a congregational vote. You can read the letter by clicking the PDF attachment below. Along with the letter are the Admin Board meeting minutes from when the vote took place, as was requested by the District Superintendent.
In the meantime, we pray that everyone, regardless of where you stand on disaffiliation, will be patient and see how this process unfolds. The strength of Due West has always been her people. We are at our strongest when we are together. God has done much through our congregation. You can see a list below of places where we have made an impact for the gospel of Jesus Christ. As the next few months unfold, the leadership of the congregation will seek to be in active conversation with the leadership of the Annual Conference. We will continue to keep you all updated. In the meantime, please do two things. First, pray. Pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance for our congregation and our Conference. Second, continue to be part of helping us fulfill the mission God has given Due West. “Inviting our community to join us as we gather together, grow in Jesus Christ and go serve.”
God holds the future and has called us to be His church in the present.
Respectfully,
Eddie Fletcher Bob Mitchell
Chair, Administrative Board Vice Chair, Administrative Board
Due West 2022 Mission Outreach
Local Outreach
MUST: Summer lunch, volunteering at the warehouse
Special Needs Georgia: help with Family Respite Day Activities, host activities for residents, independent living houses for adults with special needs
Simple Needs Georgia: Helping transition families from homelessness to permanent housing, collecting household goods, warehouse help, furniture pick-up, and delivery
Lost-n-found Youth: Meals for a shelter for runaway and homeless LGBT teens.
KSU Cares (serving KSU students experiencing homelessness): Food drives, mentoring college students
Table on Delk (serving the moms and kids living in hotels along the Delk Road area): Serve meals, pass out lunches, make placemats, help with laundry, ministry, help with Bible studies
Hotel Ministry (serving the families that live in extended stay hotels): Women’s Bible study, kids activity days, food delivery, laundry ministry, host special holiday events, rent assistance, car assistance
Murphy Harpst Children’s Home (serving teens in the foster care system): Christmas and Easter gifts, work days on campus
Cobb Police Athletic League (providing support and mentoring to Cobb County youth through athletic programs): Program support, coaching, mentoring
Cobb Police Community Affairs: Present wrapping, pumpkin carving
Teach, Love, Care (supporting our local school faculty and staff): Host breakfast/lunches, work car duty, provide morning devotions for teachers, gift cards for bus drivers
Weekend Back Pack Ministry (providing weekend food for local school kids): Shop, pack, and deliver weekend food and snacks
Calvary Children’s Home (serving kids in the foster care system): On-campus yard work and maintenance, holiday and birthday support for the kids, and food support.
Cobb Fire and Rescue Community Response Team (helping Cobb County Fire Department meet community needs): Build wheelchair ramps, and retrofit homes to be handicap accessible.
Habitat for Humanity: Serve on local build teams
FCA (promoting Christ in the local schools): Guest speakers, mentor, donate snacks/drinks
Together Families (supports families that are in danger of losing their children due to poverty issues): Clothes sorting, food donation, clothes donation, provide safe living situations when in crisis
Regional Mission and Outreach
The Craddock Center (located in Cherry Log, Georgia; serving the needs of families in the Appalachian Mountain areas): Collecting and distributing books, coat/hat drives, book sorting, and helping with quarterly activities.
Mt. Top Boy’s Home (located in North West Georgia, serving kids in the foster care system): Helping on the grounds and providing activities for the kids
Venezuela Now: crate packing projects, food and supply donations
Project 82 Kenya (helping to reunite and strengthen children and families in Kenya): Making personal care kits, prayer, future mission trip opportunities
Future Planned Mission and Outreach projects
Go Hike!: An outdoor/trail-based ministry on the Benton McKay Trail
Domestic and International Trips
Ocoee Mission Trip in Cleveland, TN: Construction and community activities
Pima Indian Tribe in Arizona: Bible studies, VBS, and community activities
International Sports Federation: Location TBD, leading sports camps in communities
Guatemala: Light construction, medical clinics, and community-based activities
Costa Rica: Light construction and community VBS
Week 12 added 11/17/2022
This will be our last discernment update until 2023! Thanks for everyone who came to hear Dan Parr this last Sunday evening. And, thanks to everyone as we continue to listen to and pray for each other. Enjoy your Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas!
Dr. David Campbell
Week 11 Update
You can watch Dan Parr’s presentation below.
Week 11 added 11/10/2022
Season of Discernment Speaker
A final reminder…
As we have mentioned, we will have another guest on November 13th at 5:30 pm, in the sanctuary of Building A. His name is Dan Parr, and he is a member of Dahlonega First UMC and an attorney in Gainesville, GA. While our last guests made the case for staying in the UMC, Mr. Parr will talk about why it could be healthy to look at other options. Please make plans to come and hear Mr. Parr.
This presentation will be recorded and available on our website shortly after the event.
And as always, please keep the church in your prayers.
Week 10 added 11/3/2022
As we have mentioned, we will have another guest on November 13th at 5:30 pm, in the sanctuary of Building A. His name is Dan Parr. He is a member of Dahlonega First UMC and an attorney in Gainesville, GA. While our last guests made the case for staying in the UMC, Mr. Parr will talk about why it could be healthy to look at other options. Please make plans to come and hear Mr. Parr.
Two weeks ago, we shared links on why churches should stay in the UMC. Today, we share links on why churches should leave the UMC.
Differences that Divide the UMC (six 12-15 minute videos)
How Did We Get Here and Where are We Going (45 minute video)
A Vision for the Continuing UMC (8 minute video)
Bishop Scott Jones Q&A (54 minute video)
Week 9 added 10/27/2022
On October 24th, the Administrative Board met and voted to request a Church Conference to vote on disaffiliation from the UMC. 78% of our Administrative Board voted to move forward with this request. Our Annual Conference has said that requests cannot be made before January 1, 2023. Charge conferences will not be held until March/April 2023. People here at Due West have strong convictions on why we should stay and why we should leave. We have already been discussing this and will continue to do so. Thank you for keeping the church in your prayers in the next few months.
Also…
As we have mentioned, we will have another guest speaker on November 13th at 5:30 pm, in the sanctuary of Building A. His name is Dan Parr, and he is a member of Dahlonega First UMC and an attorney in Gainesville, GA. While our last guests made the case for staying in the UMC, Mr. Parr will talk about why it could be healthy to look at other options. Please make plans to come and hear Mr. Parr.
Week 8 added 10/20/2022
As mentioned last week, we will have another guest speaker on Sunday, November 13th. Last week’s email said 5:00 pm, but we have changed that to 5:30 pm in the sanctuary of Building A. His name is Dan Parr, and he is a member of Dahlonega First UMC and an attorney in Gainesville, GA. While our last guests made the case for staying in the UMC, Mr. Parr will talk about why it could be healthy to look at other options. Please make plans to come and hear Mr. Parr.
Also, we mentioned last week that our next Administrative Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 24th, at 7:00 pm in Bldg. A.
This week, we wanted to share some links with perspectives on which churches should stay in the UMC. In two weeks, we will plan to share some from a different perspective.
Stay UMC Perspective
Abide Web Resources, South Georgia Conference
That We May Be One, Texas Conference Resource Page
Stay UMC “What are the Big Concerns?“, North Alabama Conference
“United Methodist Church”, Video by the Texas Conference of the UMC
Diverse and Still United: A Conversation With Adam Hamilton and John Stephens
Download Handout from Meeting on 8/21/22 for Remain UMC Perspective
New Use Extreme Caution with WCA Tactics and Misinformation, Bishop Tracy S. Malone (Ohio) Message
New May 29, 2022 Sermon “Who Has The Final Word” by Dr. John Robbins
New Response to Rob Renfroe “Differences that Divide the UMC” Videos
Week 7 added 10/10/2022
A note from our Senior Pastor
This week, our Thursday Season of Discernment update went out on Monday!
The reason for Monday is to give two full weeks’ notice of our next Administrative Board meeting, which will be Monday, October 24th at 7:00 pm. Towards the end of that meeting, we will receive a report from our Validation Task Force and possibly take a vote on whether or not to request a Church Conference from our District Superintendent. (As a matter of process, for a church to have the opportunity to vote on disaffiliation, the Administrative Board must request a Church Conference.) As a reminder, according to the schedule established by our Annual Conference, they will not receive these requests before January 1st and all Church Conferences will be scheduled for March or April. If you would like to express an opinion to the Board, please feel free to email adminchair@duewest.org.
Also, after having the bishop, district superintendent and district lay leader last week, many people have asked if there will be someone coming to present another perspective. We have already invited someone to speak on November 13th at 5:00 pm. More details to follow…
As always, thank you for all you do for Christ and His church. And thank you for all of your past, present and future prayers for Due West.
In Christ,
David
Week 6 added 10/6/2022
More Q and A on Disaffiliation
Q: What does our founder, John Wesley, say about this issue?
John Wesley was an 18th century Anglican priest who believed that his church, the Church of England, had lost its way and had to be reformed. He spoke up at great cost, ultimately being forbidden from preaching in nearly every local Church of England. He was run out of towns. He was abused and assaulted. The only way he could preach in his own home church was to stand on his father’s grave and do so. And yet, he persisted because he knew that God was calling him to make a change of the utmost importance. John Wesley wrote,
“I want to know one thing, the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. Give me the book! At any price, give me the Book of God!”
Wesley makes it clear, time and again, that the way to our Savior is via scriptural teachings. It is paramount that our church decide on the topic of disaffiliation and then act upon that decision whether or not we believe membership in the UMC is still the best way for Due West.
Watch the discussion with our District Lay Leader, District Superintendent, and Bishop.
If you submitted a written question and it was not addressed, the District Superintendent took all of the remaining questions and will try to get them answered and returned to us.
Week 5 added 9/29/22
THE BISHOP IS COMING TO DUE WEST!
Next Monday night, October 3rd, our District Superintendent, Jessica Terrell, will be with us in the sanctuary of Building A at 7:00 pm. Also coming, will be Randy Hardee, the Lay Leader of our District, as well as Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson. Everyone is invited to come.
Q and A on Disaffiliation
Q: So what are we actually talking about right now in terms of what will happen with Due West?
We are talking about calling the question of disaffiliation and then moving forward with the process, should the church elect to do so. The North Georgia Conference has elected to offer, for a very specific and limited time, what is likely the most reasonable path forward for churches with the concerns that Due West is facing. If members of any UMC church in the Conference are dissatisfied with the UMC theologically and/or organizationally, there currently is a window in which they may leave in an orderly fashion.
It is the level, degree, and magnitude of this dissatisfaction which Due West is working hard to ascertain and measure. If there is no dissatisfaction, then there will likely be no call for disaffiliation. If there is proven, documented dissatisfaction, then the church should request a church conference and proceed along the North Georgia Conference’s stated timeline for disaffiliation in order to retain our church property, our church resources, and our church purpose, to gather, grow, and go within the community we love so much.
Q: How do you know there is dissatisfaction with our current state of affairs?
The Due West Administrative Board advertised and scheduled six informational meetings on this topic in May and June due to the time-sensitive nature of the process.
The Board has attempted to gauge the sentiments of those in attendance at those meetings on the topic of disaffiliation via survey. The results clearly indicate a significant portion of the congregation will depart from Due West in the event that our church remains part of the UMC. This clearly indicates dissatisfaction with the current state of affiliation in the UMC and necessitates requesting a church conference so the congregation may clearly indicate whether or not this is the desired path forward.
The question is not and should not be misunderstood or misrepresented to be, “Will we join the GMC?” or “Will we adjust our own church doctrine?” The question at this point solely revolves around whether we will undertake the rigorous and time-sensitive process of disaffiliation from the UMC.
Q: Why can’t we just keep on as we are? Other UMC churches have not faced repercussions from following only select portions of the Doctrine. If the General Conference changes the Doctrine to something we cannot follow, can’t we just not follow that part?
This is part of the problem we must address. If Due West elects to remain within the UMC, then it appears it could be an option – at least for a while – to live in a “bubble” in which we observe the Book of Discipline while other UMC churches may deny portions of it. But, we do not want to be guilty of ignoring the doctrine of the church when this has been one of our major concerns.
Week 4 added 9/22/2022
Many people have asked about the timing of the conversations and decisions in our future. We decided to share this schedule this week and will continue the question and answers next week.
We hope you find this information helpful, and we trust everyone is continuing to pray for our church.
October 3, 2022 - Our District Superintendent will be in the Sanctuary of Building A at 7:00 pm to speak on behalf of our Annual Conference.
The guidelines our Book of Discipline and Annual Conference have provided say that before a congregation can vote on disaffiliation, the Administrative Board must first request a church conference. Sometime in the Fall, our Administrative Board will meet to consider this decision. Related to that, the Validation Committee of the Administrative Board has finished their work and will report back at the Board’s October meeting.
If the Administrative Board votes to ask for a church conference, the results of that vote will be made public to the congregation. Our District Superintendent will receive those requests in January and February of 2023. Church Conferences will be held in March and April 2023. District Superintendents will provide dates.
If our Administrative Board votes to request a Church Conference, we will share the date as soon as it is received from our Superintendent.
At the Church Conference, every member of the church is eligible to vote. (To be a member means you have formally joined Due West.)
Week 3 added 9/15/2022
Q and A on Disaffiliation
As a church that is currently part of the United Methodist Church, this is an essential conversation. Before we can discuss whether to stay or leave, however, we must all operate from a standard set of facts. Here are the facts, as objectively presented as possible, for your review. We will take multiple weeks to address some key questions.
Click here to download a glossary of terms as a PDF.
Click here to download a Detailed History of the conflicts within the UMC.
Q: How did “leaving the church” even become part of the conversation?
It has been asked, “How many times would you participate on a baseball team if the rules of the game were violated by both players and the referees? How long would you support an institution that provides in writing a method for revising its rulebook, but for those who object to the results of the process, simply behave as they choose without consequence or accountability?”
In 2012, the UMC General Conference met and reluctantly concluded that there were too many different – and conflicting – understandings of Methodism in practice within the bounds of the UMC for all to continue as one church and remain a healthy, religious body. Naturally, this conclusion was met with dismay by nearly all involved. Nearly a decade of further exploration, evaluation, and self-examination followed. During this time, it became increasingly apparent to all that the 2012 General Conference had reached a correct, if disappointing, decision. Along the way, some congregations realized they could not remain within the UMC any longer for congregation-specific reasons and elected to remove themselves from the body of the Methodist Church prior to the official unveiling of the disaffiliation process that Due West must choose whether or not to navigate today.
Due West has not expedited the process of discussing or proceeding with disaffiliation in any way and has elected to remain within the United Methodist Church and follow the prescribed processes for evaluation of the current beliefs and practices rather than leaving early. Now, with all the information in hand, the church is obliged to examine, evaluate, and act because today, far more so than a decade earlier, many churches within the UMC are divided to the point of unhealthiness. Also, the disaffiliation protocol set forth by the North Georgia Conference sets forth a very specific schedule. The process cannot be rushed or slowed.
Q: Okay, but what do the churches disagree about?
The churches disagree about how the Book of Discipline should be applied to the life and governance of the church. The Book of Discipline, sometimes referred to simply as “the Discipline,” is the book of law of the UMC and contains the Constitution, Doctrine, Doctrinal Statements, General Rules, and Social Principles of the Church. It was originally published in 1784, and the most recent edition was published in 2016. In addition to dealing with matters of church governance, it states the beliefs of the church, such as that three figures are united in one God (God the Father, God the Son [Jesus], and God the Holy Spirit) and that the Bible provides the only guide to belief and practice.
In Methodism, churches agree to abide by the governance of the Book of Discipline, but some churches in today’s UMC have elected not to do so. This has led to entire congregations violating the Book of Discipline without facing any type of recourse, reprimand, or penalty. Naturally, an ongoing issue of scriptural “flexibility” within the UMC has led our church, like many others, to question whether it is wise to remain affiliated with an organization that permits internal disregard of its own doctrine and doctrinal statements. Due to the ongoing disagreements and concern, the General Conference has endeavored to mediate the situation and negotiate a compromise. However, these attempts have ultimately failed, leading the General Conference to offer member churches access to the disaffiliation process provided the church follows the guidelines issued by its Annual Conference. At this point, we have been in the discernment phase to determine if we want to call a church conference and vote on disaffiliation.
Week 2 added 9/8/2022
This week’s update contains a lot of information. Below, there are links to three documents that were passed out at the informational sessions. One is called “A Call to Prayerful Discernment for Due West”. It is a brief overview of the overall situation. The two others were written by members of our congregation. One is called “Why Stay UMC”. It makes the case to remain in The United Methodist Church. The other is called “A New Methodism”. It makes a case for a specific alternative to the UMC. Even as it is shared, it is premature. Our leadership has clearly said we need to first prayerfully focus on whether the UMC is the best fit for Due West. Only after that question has been answered will we discuss what’s next. But, we have included it here because people have requested a copy.
Click links to open documents:
If you read this week’s DWInsight email, you noticed an announcement from our Survey Validation Committee. It is reprinted here…
“This committee has been formed to determine the validity of the surveys that were turned in after each of the question-and-answer sessions held over the summer. If you have questions or comments for the Survey Validation Committee, please either put a physical note in the drop box located on the blue Admin 2 door or email us at surveyvalidation@duewest.org.”
Stay tuned for more information next week!
Week 1 Added 9/1/2022
Church Survey Results
The Future of United Methodism for Due West
Moving Forward in Faith and Grace
For many in our church this has been a challenging, if not frustrating, period in the life of Due West and the United Methodist Church. To keep you as informed as possible, your Administrative Board of church leaders met on August 22, 2022, and reviewed the results of surveys taken at the conclusion of six informational meetings amongst the congregation conducted during the month of June. The results of those surveys are shared below.
The Board assigned a small ad hoc committee the task of carefully reviewing those results and any other information pertinent to staying within or leaving the United Methodist Church. (The word being used for leaving is “disaffiliation”) This committee made its first report prior to the August 22 Board meeting. It will present its final findings and recommendations to the Administrative Board at its October meeting. We will be sending out an email giving the congregation the opportunity to answer questions soon. The Board has scheduled a 24-hour prayer vigil to support this committee’s period of discernment. The vigil will be conducted from 12:00 pm September 17 to 12:00 pm September 18th. In addition, the District Superintendent will be here October 3rd at 7 pm in the Bldg. A sanctuary to speak to the congregation. Please make plans to attend.
Click here to sign up for Prayer Vigil
If the ad hoc committee recommends giving the congregation the opportunity to vote for disaffiliation, the Board will take a vote at its October meeting to recommend a church conference vote be taken of all bona fide members of Due West to be held under the auspices of the North Georgia Conference and its guidelines. Such a call for a church conference cannot be formally submitted before January 1st, 2023. Our District Superintendent would then schedule a church conference for Due West after February 28th.
As we move forward in faith and grace, your Administrative Board will continue to keep you informed.
We received nearly 250 surveys.
Question #1 asked how well-informed people felt on a scale of 1 -10.
The congregation averaged out to a 7.22 rating.
Question #2 asked if people would prefer Due West remaining in the UMC or being in a more traditional congregation.
85% of the those from our congregation who responded said more traditional.
Question #3 asked how likely people were to remain at Due West if the church remained part of the UMC.
Congregation: 27% Likely or Very Likely to stay vs. 73% Unlikely or Very Unlikely to stay
Question #4 asked how likely people were to stay if Due West disaffiliated.
86% of the congregation said Likely or Very Likely to stay.
Question #5 asked what people thought the theological leaning of Due West was.
84% stated they thought Due West leans traditional.
If Due West were to vote to disaffiliate from the UMC, we would establish a process to determine the best home for our congregation in the future. Those would be two separate decisions. Please continue to keep the church in your prayers as we move forward in this important time of discernment.