Long's Chapel stymied in vote over Methodist split

Mar. 29—As Methodist churches across the globe face a March 31 deadline to decide a future path in a looming split over human sexuality issues, it appears one Haywood church won't have that option until much later.

Since last May, members of Long's Chapel United Methodist Church have been discussing whether to pursue a negotiated split, an offer extend by the United Methodist hierarchy that expires at the end of the year.

UMC Disaffiliation process

A fact sheet put out by the Western North Carolina Conference describes the path toward disaffiliation.

—New language was added to the The United Methodist Church Book of Discipline in 2019 called Paragraph 2553. It extends a limited right for United Methodist churches to leave the denomination through the end of 2023 "for reasons of conscience" related to the practice of homosexuality or the ordination or marriage of self-avowed practicing homosexuals.

—The first step is a letter to the district superintendent requesting disaffiliation, who will call a church conference where a vote will be taken. Such vote must pass by a two-thirds majority.

—The church must reach a written disaffiliation agreement with the conference trustees, which must then be ratified by the voting members of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference that's held each June at Lake Junaluska Assembly.

—Prior to the disaffiliation date, a local church shall remit any unpaid apportionments for the 12 months immediately prior to their disaffiliation date and an additional 12 months of apportionments, plus unfunded pension obligations, repayment of any vitality grants given to the local church by the conference or district in the last 10 years, and conference legal costs.

The option of a negotiated split would feasibly avoid the thorny legal challenges other Protestant churches faced over the church-afforded rights to those in the LGBTQ+ community.

The Long's Chapel leadership team opted move forward with the steps leading toward a congregation vote. A February vote was set, but the district superintendent abruptly rescinded it.

A February letter from the Rev. Dr. H. Jae Lee, the superintendent of the Smoky Mountain district of the Western North Carolina Conference, requested Long's Chapel hold additional listening sessions presented by the United Methodist leadership.

The sessions are to focus on "listening to diverse voices, including youth and LGBTQ families, in a safe and healthy environment, and building trust relationships for the church's unity and healing," Lee's letter stated.

The district superintendent additionally said he didn't think it was wise for the congregation to schedule a vote before a special annual conference on May 6. Following that conference, churches where a vote had already been held would be able to proceed with the disaffiliation process.

By delaying Long's Chapel vote, it wouldn't be allowed to proceed with a split at that time.

Suzanne Hinson, a church member whose husband is on the leadership team, said many at Long's Chapel are disappointed the church hierarchy has delayed the vote and put up obstacles to following the original schedule.

"We are at a crossroads. Do we continue to be strung along with meaningless promises from the district superintendent and bishop or do we take another path?" Hinson asked. "We know that we have done everything that has been asked of us. We have put faith in the UMC leadership over and over, only to be disappointed that they continue to change the rules for Long's Chapel."

A second special annual conference has now been scheduled for Nov. 4 and is accompanied by a new timeline for congregational votes.

In a March 21 letter to the WNC conference clergy and laity, Carter wrote that churches need to submit their originating letter of intent by July 1, and hold their church conference by Sept. 15, 2023, to be included in the Nov. 4 special session and finalize their disaffiliation, including payment of all costs, by Dec. 31.

In the meantime, members of Long's Chapel are growing antsy with the shifting timeline and uncertainty.

"It's unfair, and the congregation is upset. We are losing people who are tired of waiting for a decision to be made," Hinson said.

Divided congregation

Indeed there are opinions on both sides within the Long's Chapel membership, and it is unclear how a vote would turn out. An informal mail survey last September showed about 60% of respondents favored parting ways with the current church, one many Methodists believe is headed in the direction of increased inclusiveness regarding human sexuality issues.

Aimee Yeager, communications director for the Western North Carolina conference, said that is one of the most troubling and widespread rumors amid the disaffiliation discussion.

"The doctrines and theology of The United Methodist Church have not, and will not change," she wrote.

While the United Methodist Church Book of Discipline does not endorse same-sex marriage nor address rights of those within the LBGTQ+ community, traditionalists argue that the church has turned a blind eye to congregations that have embraced both.

Yeager indicated Long's Chapel — with its deep history, its close ties to the Lake Junalusaka Conference and Retreat Center, and long-time ministry partnership with the WNC Conference — is unique.

Additionally, she said, debates among members of Long's Chapel reflect a significant number who are in favor of disaffiliation and an equally significant number who would like to remain United Methodists.

"For that reason, the district and conference have done all they can to encourage Long's Chapel to take their time with this decision and not rush into a vote that may cause more harm and trauma to their community. There is no need for any church to rush into a vote," she wrote in an email.

Long's Chapel leadership began steps in the disaffiliation process last July and has held half a dozen church-wide informational sessions on the issue, and twice that with the leadership team analyzing the paths forward.

A thorny issue

Most Methodist churches in the U.S. have been built on land held in trust by the denomination. The negotiated split process will allow congregations who disaffiliate to keep both the land and improvements.

A key provision is that UMC member churches only have until the end of 2023 to hold a vote, which must be called by the district superintendent, and, if the decision is to disaffiliate, to work out a negotiated settlement.

A March 31 deadline was established to better facilitate the complicated process and give churches time to gather the funds needed to break away.

In the case of Long's Chapel, the major expenses would be the apportionment, which is about $240,000 annually, said Pastor Chris Westmoreland, who leads the second largest United Methodist Church in Haywood County with a membership of 1,132.

First United Methodist Church in Waynesville is the largest Methodist Church in the county with 1,709 members. It adopted an identity statement in 2019 where the church resolved to facilitate gay marriages upon request. Churches in this situation or who are happy with the inner workings of the United Methodist Church have no need to vote.

As of early March, three Haywood churches had voted to disaffiliate, though Yeager declined to provide the church names.

Alternative path

In a recent letter to the congregation, the Long's Chapel leadership team addressed the inability to vote before the May special conference and the short turnaround time if disaffiliation was the chosen path with a fall vote.

Following a March 7 meeting with several dozen congregants, the leadership team asked church members to participate in 40 days of prayer for the unity of Long's Chapel and that they participate in an informal vote on or before April 16.

The vote is not authorized by the conference leadership, the letter explained, but will provide direction for the leadership team.

"The question posed in this vote will be, what have you heard from God about this important decision through our informational meetings and conversations? As a matter of your personal conscience: Do we remain with the UMC, or do we not?" the letter stated.

After the vote, church leaders vowed:

—To do our best to start a healing process meant to bring unity to the denominational circumstances;

—Act on member wishes regarding a possible denominational affiliation for Long's Chapel;

—Remind people of the unique way Long's Chapel believes all people matter to God and retell the story of how the church can reach, grow and serve all.

The official United Methodist Church split won't happen until the summer of 2024, the next gathering of the church's General Conference.