CABINET RESOLUTIONS 2016 Tennessee Annual Conference

Transcription

1 CABINET RESOLUTIONS 2016 Tennessee Annual Conference CHARGE- LINE CHANGES Columbia District Farmington- Clay Hill Be it resolved that the Farmington United Methodist Church and the Clay Hill United Methodist Church now be joined together to form the Farmington- Clay Hill Charge. Spring Hill- Neapolis Be it resolved that the Spring Hill United Methodist Church be removed from the Spring Hill- Neapolis Charge and become a station church. Be it further resolved that the Neapolis United Methodist Church be joined together with the Cowles Chapel United Methodist Church to form the Cowles Chapel- Neapolis Charge. Cumberland District Lambuth Memorial- Liberty Charge Be it resolved that the Lambuth Memorial United Methodist Church and the Liberty United Methodist Church be separated and each become a stand- alone church. Nashville District Aldersgate- Tulip Street Be it resolved that Aldersgate United Methodist Church be removed from the Aldergsate & Tulip Street charge, and be it further resolved that Aldersgate United Methodist Church become a stand- alone church. St. John s- West Nashville Be it resolved that West Nashville United Methodist Church be removed from the St. John s & West Nashville charge, and be it further resolved that St. John s United Methodist Church become a stand- alone church. Brooks- Braden Be it resolved that Braden United Methodist Church be removed from the Brooks Memorial and Braden charge, and be it further resolved that Brooks Memorial United Methodist Church become a stand- alone church. Crievewood- Glendale Be it resolved that Crievewood United Methodist Church and Glendale United Methodist church join to become Crievewood & Glendale charge. 1

2 Pulaski District Campground- Eureka Be it resolved that in the Pulaski District, Campground United Methodist Church and Eureka United Methodist Church of the Campground- Eureka Charge, be separated and no longer considered a charge. Be it further resolved that each church be considered a stand- alone church. Blanche- Coldwater Be it resolved that in the Pulaski District, Blanche United Methodist Church and Coldwater United Methodist Church of the Blanche- Coldwater Charge, be separated and no longer considered a charge. Be it further resolved that Coldwater be considered a stand- alone church. Be it further resolved that the Blanche United Methodist Church become part of the Aspen Hill- Dellrose Charge to become the Aspen Hill- Dellrose- Blanche Charge. St. Joseph Be it resolved that in the Pulaski District, St. Joseph United Methodist Church no longer by part of the South Lawrence Circuit but considered a stand- alone church. Be it further resolved that Bonnertown United Methodist Church and Fuller s Chapel United Methodist Church continue to be the South Lawrence Circuit. East End Be it resolved that in the Pulaski District, East End United Methodist Church in Lawrence County be separated from the East End- Fall River- Pleasant Ridge Charge. Be it further resolved that East End United Methodist Church be placed on a charge with Coleman Memorial United Methodist Church to become the Coleman Memorial- East End Charge. Be it further resolved that Fall River and Pleasant Ridge will continue as the Fall River- Pleasant Ridge Charge. Clarksville District RESOLUTIONS FOR DISCONTINUANCE Discontinuance of the Soules Chapel United Methodist Church Whereas, in the Clarksville District, the congregation of Soules Chapel United Methodist Church on the Soules Chapel- Marion Charge, has served God faithfully through the United Methodist Church for many years, and, Whereas in recent years the congregation has experienced a decline in membership and it is no longer feasible to keep it open and operational as a church. Be It Resolved that Soules Chapel United Methodist Church be discontinued, and that the Clarksville District Trustees be authorized to take possession of the property and make the determination of how the property may best be used for the Kingdom of God. If it is determined by the Trustees that it is best that the property be sold, they be authorized to sell the property and the contents. Be It Resolved that the Marion United Methodist Church become a stand alone church. 2

3 Cookeville District Discontinuance of the Oak Hill United Methodist Church Whereas, the leaders of Oak Hill United Methodist Church, a church located in the Cookeville District of the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church, have expressed the congregation s desire to no longer be a congregation of the United Methodist Church, and, therefore, the church property is no longer used, kept or maintained by its membership as a place of divine worship of the United Methodist Church and no longer serves the purpose for which it was organized; and Whereas, the presiding Bishop, a majority of the District Superintendents and the Cookeville District Board of Church Location and Building have consented to appropriate action by the Conference Trustees to take control of the real and personal property as contemplated by paragraph 2549 of The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church (2012); Be it resolved, that the Tennessee Conference does hereby declare Oak Hill United Methodist Church discontinued, and be it further resolved that the Conference Board of Trustees be authorized to take possession of the real and personal property of Oak Hill United Methodist Church and to make a determination of how the property may best be used for the Kingdom of God. If it is determined by the Trustees that it is best that the property be sold, they shall be authorized to sell the property and the contents, with net proceeds to be used at the discretion of the Cookeville District Board of Trustees. Cumberland District Discontinuance of the Neely s Bend United Methodist Church Whereas, that in the Cumberland District the congregation of Neely s Bend United Methodist Church has served God faithfully through the United Methodist Church for years, and Whereas, in recent years the congregation has experienced a decline in membership and makes it so it is no longer feasible to keep the church operational as a church Be it resolved that the Neely s Bend United Methodist Church voted on May 22, 2016 to be discontinued as of September 30, 2016 and that the Cumberland District Committee on Church Location and Buildings, who also serve as the District Trustees, be authorized to work with the Cumberland District Superintendent to determine the best possible future use of the building and its content. Murfreesboro District Disposition of property of former Hobbs Hill United Methodist Church Whereas the Hobbs Hill United Methodist Church located in Tracy City was officially closed by action of the 2015 Tennessee Annual Conference; Whereas it has been determined that said property is not in a location that will support a viable new congregation in the foreseeable future; Be it resolved, that the Hobbs Hill UMC property be turned over to the Trustees of the Murfreesboro District for appropriate disposition. Discontinuance of the Gilley Hill United Methodist Church Whereas the Gilley Hill United Methodist Church has served God faithfully for many years, and Whereas, in recent years the congregation has experienced a decline in membership and is no longer feasible to continue, and 3

4 Be it resolved that the Gilley Hill United Methodist Church be discontinued as of June 26, 2016, and that the best possible future use of the building and its content be determined and disposed of by the Murfreesboro District Trustees. Nashville District Discontinuance of the Inglewood United Methodist Church Whereas the Inglewood United Methodist Church located in Davidson County was organized in 1923 and has had a long and proud history and has served God faithfully through the United Methodist Church for many years, and Whereas in recent years the congregation has experienced a decline in membership such that it is no longer feasible to keep the church operational as a church; Be it resolved, that the Inglewood United Methodist Church be discontinued effective January 1, 2017, and that the District Trustees be authorized to take possession of the property and make the determination of how the property may best be used for the kingdom of God. If it is determined by the District Trustees that it is best that the property be sold, they be authorized to sell the property, both real and personal, with proceeds to be used as directed by the District Trustees, consistent with the provisions of The Book of Discipline. Discontinuance of the Tulip Street United Methodist Church Whereas the Tulip Street United Methodist Church located in Davidson County was organized in 1859 and has had a long and proud history and has served God faithfully through the United Methodist Church for many years, and Whereas in recent years the congregation has experienced a decline in membership such that it is no longer feasible to keep the church operational as a church; Be it resolved, that the Tulip Street United Methodist Church be discontinued effective November 7, 2016, and that the District Trustees be authorized to take possession of the property and make the determination of how the property may best be used for the kingdom of God. If it is determined by the District Trustees that it is best that the property be sold, they be authorized to sell the property, both real and personal, with proceeds to be used as directed by the District Trustees, consistent with the provisions of The Book of Discipline. Discontinuance of the West Nashville United Methodist Church Whereas the West Nashville United Methodist Church located in Davidson County was organized by 1886 and has had a long and proud history and has served God faithfully through the United Methodist Church for many years, and Whereas in recent years the congregation has experienced a decline in membership such that it is no longer feasible to keep the church operational as a church; Be it resolved, that the West Nashville United Methodist Church be discontinued effective July 15, 2016, and that the District Trustees be authorized to take possession of the property and make the 4

5 determination of how the property may best be used for the kingdom of God. If it is determined by the District Trustees that it is best that the property be sold, they be authorized to sell the property, both real and personal, with proceeds to be used as directed by the District Trustees, consistent with the provisions of The Book of Discipline. Pulaski District Discontinuance of the Shiloh United Methodist Church Whereas, that in the Pulaski District the congregation of Shiloh United Methodist Church has served God faithfully through the United Methodist Church for years, and Whereas, in recent years the congregation has experienced a decline in membership and makes it so it is no longer feasible to keep the church operational as a church Be it resolved, that the Shiloh United Methodist Church be discontinued and that the Pulaski District Committee on Church Location and Buildings, who also serve as the District Trustees, be authorized to donate the building and its contents to the Shiloh Cemetery Association. Be it further resolved, that the Shiloh Church membership roll be transferred to the Dellrose United Methodist Church. Cabinet Resolution to Reduce Number of Districts Whereas it is the responsibility of the Bishop to form the districts after consultation with the district superintendents and after the number of districts has been determined by vote of the annual conference (Para 415.4, The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2012, Judicial Council Decision 422), and Whereas the number of churches in the seven districts in the Tennessee Conference vary widely Clarksville 100 Columbia 73 Cookeville 110 Cumberland 65 Murfreesboro 92 Nashville 54 Pulaski 82 Be it resolved, that the Bishop and the District Superintendents of the Tennessee Conference assess the feasibility and develop a plan to possibly reduce the number of Districts by at least one district. Be it further resolved, that if determined feasible, the Bishop and District Superintendents be empowered by vote of the 2016 Tennessee Annual Conference to form the number of districts at a minimum of 5 or a maximum of 6 for the conference year. Resolution to Establish Limited Service Churches Whereas, the Tennessee Conference has many churches with fewer than forty members averaging less than twenty people in worship; and Whereas, many of these churches are facing serious financial challenges and are losing members and attendees by death and other causes; and 5

6 Whereas, the Tennessee Conference wants to be sensitive to the needs and wishes of the people who love their church and desire to see the church buildings remain as a witness to God s presence in their communities; and Whereas, a category of Limited Service Churches has been successfully used in the Peninsula- Delaware Conference of the United Methodist Church since 1973 and in the Mississippi Conference since 2013; Be it resolved, that a category of Limited Service Churches be established within the bounds of the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church based upon the following guidelines: 1. All salaries and monies connected with the District and Annual Conference are removed. 2. The church drops out of the listing of churches to which pastors are appointed and shall be assigned to a charge conference of record to which a designated committee shall report annually. The Tennessee Conference Journal shall contain a listing of Limited Service Churches that includes the district in which the church building is located, the name and location of the church, and the year in which the church was placed on limited service, so that proper records will show the historic continuity of these churches. 3. The only services to be held in Limited Service Churches are weddings, funerals, homecomings or other special occasions. 4. One or more special services a year may be held with an offering received to be used for the upkeep of the building. 5. The remaining members of the Limited Service Churches may either transfer their membership to become affiliate members of another United Methodist Church for regular worship and church involvement or may keep their membership in the limited service church. 6. The members shall become a special committee reporting to a nearby Charge Conference. This committee shall plan with the pastor of the nearby Charge Conference for weddings, funerals, and special services. The committee shall report each year to the nearby Charge Conference the number of services held, money received and expended, membership and other items as needed. 7. The designation of Limited Service Churches allows the possibility that, should population shifts bring new people into the area, the Tennessee Annual Conference may resume regular service in the church. 8. Churches seeking Limited Service status shall submit the following to the Annual Conference through the District Superintendent: a. A copy of the deed for the property b. Specific directions for locating the property from a major highway c. An 8 x10 photograph of the church building d. A list of members and the church(es) to which their membership is transferred or to which affiliate membership is assigned 9. The Charge Conference to which a Limited Service Church is assigned will furnish the District Superintendent with the names of persons assigned by the Charge Conference to oversee the maintenance of buildings and grounds during the conference year. When there are no longer persons to be found for this responsibility, the Charge Conference may recommend to the District Superintendent that the property be declared abandoned. 10. Where conditions exist that indicate the buildings are no longer properly maintained and where no report to the Charge Conference is made giving valid reasons for the continuation of Limited Service Status, the District Superintendent may bring the property before the Annual Conference to declare it abandoned without further consultation. 6

7 Be it further resolved that all actions related to limited service churches shall be subject to the approval of the local church conference, the cabinet, and the bishop; Be it further resolved that no church shall be compelled to become a limited service church without the approval of the local church conference. Resolution for Establishing Preaching Stations Whereas, there are churches in the Tennessee Conference that are worshipping less than 15 at the primary worship service each week, and Whereas, these congregations often have difficulties paying a pastor s salary and their Conference and District Apportionments, and Whereas, appointing a local pastor to such charges is becoming more difficult as supply is diminishing, Be it resolved, that the Tennessee Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church create a category of appointment to be called Preaching Station for the purpose of enabling continued leadership by lay servant ministers. Be it further resolved, that the following definitions and guidelines be adopted for developing Preaching Stations: 1. A Preaching Station is a church with an attendance of 15 or less that is not growing or demonstrating the ability to pay District and Conference Apportionments as determined by the District Superintendent. 2. The Preaching Station will be listed among the appointments as being served by a supply pastor (SY). 3. All salary, Conference and District Apportionments are to be discontinued, with any income directed to revitalization of the Preaching Station. 4. Sunday services will continue under the supervision of the District Lay Servant Ministries Team or by other means as determined by the District Superintendent. 5. An Elder will be assigned to assist with essential pastoral needs requiring clergy. 6. There will be an annual evaluation coordinated by the Superintendent in conjunction with the District Board of Church Location and Building or other such district groups, and, when it appears feasible, the Preaching Station will resume ministry with an appointed pastor, salary, Conference and District Apportionment obligations. 7