Disaffiliation

Central Conferences
Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone (center) addresses the council during its Nov. 3-8 fall meeting. Sitting beside Malone is Bishop L. Jonathan Holston (left), Council of Bishops secretary, and Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., president-designate. Malone leads the Indiana Conference, Holston leads the North Alabama and Alabama-West Florida conferences, and Saenz leads what will be the Horizon Texas Conference starting Jan. 1. Photo by Rick Wolcott, Council of Bishops.

Bishops urge halt to Côte d’Ivoire funding

The United Methodist Council of Bishops is asking the denomination’s finance agency to suspend all funding for bishop compensation and related expenses in Côte d’Ivoire.
Local Church
The banner in front of Woori Naperville United Methodist Church (formerly Naperville Korean United Methodist Church) in Naperville, Ill., reads, “Grace of God does everything.” On Oct. 4, the Northern Illinois Conference announced that it had signed a settlement with a breakaway faction of Naperville Korean United Methodist Church over the rightful ownership of the church building and other assets. Photo by the Rev. Nadan Jo, Woori Naperville United Methodist Church.

Dispute over church property resolved

United Methodists in the Northern Illinois Conference are celebrating a settlement reached between the conference and a breakaway faction of the former Naperville Korean United Methodist Church.
Judicial Council
Members of the 2024-2028 Judicial Council are (front row, from left) the Rev. Jonathan Ulanday; the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, president; the Rev. Angela Brown, secretary; and Molly Hlekani Mwayera; (back row, from left) Bill Waddell; Andrew Vorbrich; the Rev. Øyvind Helliesen; the Rev. Luan-Vu Tran; and Harriett Olson. The Judicial Council released decisions Oct. 29. Photo by Linda Bloom, UM News.

Church court: Season of church exits is over

The United Methodist Church’s top court ruled that a church closure cannot be used as a method of disaffiliation. The Judicial Council also struck down changes to church-closure law.
The Rev. Kathy Heustess, director of the Center for Wellbeing, meets with clients in her Knoxville office as well as in Johnson City and Chattanooga and remotely. Photo by Ben Smith, Holston Conference.

Help for clergy with disaffiliation stress

Some clergy are still struggling with decisions about their future, including whether to “stay or go” in The United Methodist Church. The Holston Conference’s Center for Wellbeing aims to help pastors and lay staff members deal with disaffiliation and other stresses. Annette Spence reports.

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