DISCERNMENT RESOURCES

The history is long and complicated, but ultimately, upholding the traditional, apostolic witness of Holy Scripture as authoritative in all matters of faith and practice is the central reason why Jones Memorial is considering leaving The United Methodist Church. Due to the ongoing 50 years of division, covenant breaking and open defiance of the Bible and the Book of Discipline taking place in The United Methodist Church, congregations across the U.S. are being asked to choose their own pathways for future affiliation based on their core values and theological beliefs.

At Texas Annual Conference (TAC) in late May 2022, Bishop Scott Jones encouraged each congregation to consider its future affiliation by the late fall of this year — whether that’s remaining in The United Methodist Church, staying in Wesleyan connection by affiliating with another Methodist denomination, or becoming an independent church.

In June 2022, Bishop Jones announced his retirement effective December 31, 2022, citing “increasing disobedience and escalating conflict in the denomination.” The new incoming bishop is expected to be much more progressive in theology and practice and will carry the authority to re-assign any of our pastors to another church within our geographic region. Jones Memorial may have little input in the appointment of the new senior pastor or any other pastor the bishop chooses to replace.

Currently, Jones is one of over 230 churches in the TAC currently in official discernment.

Very little.

Jones Memorial will continue to advance its mission to follow Jesus and do what Jesus did, love, serve, reach, teach and pray- regardless of denominational affiliation. Our clergy, leadership team, and members will work to ensure the ministry and mission of the church advances without delay, interruption, or redirection.

The Texas Annual Conference (TAC) laid out a seven-step process for each church seeking to separate from the UMC:

1) complete the appropriate period of discernment,
2) calculate apportionments and unfunded pension liability estimates, 3) conduct a congregational vote to disaffiliate,
4) pay in full previous year’s apportionments and current year apportionments,
5) pay in full unfunded pension liability,
6) complete all necessary legal forms,
and 7) be approved for release by an affirmative vote of the Texas Annual Conference.

A special called session of the Texas Annual Conference of the UMC will be held on December 3, 2022, for the purpose of voting to release local congregations that have completed the necessary steps and settled all financial and legal obligations to the TAC by that date. Jones will be among this group if our discernment period reveals a desire to leave the denomination.

Jones seeks to advance its connectional Wesleyan heritage. Among the options for possible future affiliation are 1) The Global Methodist Church and 2) The Free Methodist Church USA, 4) African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E), etc.

One possible outcome includes Jones becoming an independent congregation or an independent Methodist Church for a temporary period of time, before affiliating with a new or different Methodist denomination.

Our 2022 Church Conference date is set for Sunday, September 25, 2022 at 11:45 a.m. in the Sanctuary. The District Superintendent will be present to preside at this meeting.  Upon arrival at the church conference, members will check in to receive a paper ballot. Votes must be cast in person with no absentee or proxy voting allowed. The ballots will be counted by a neutral party and the decision will be announced.

Your vows of membership are honored regardless of denominational affiliation. Your membership is recorded in our local church database, and that status will not change as a result of any disaffiliation or affiliation activity.

If the church leaves the UMC, the legal name will be changed to remove United.