DISCERNMENT OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
AT GREGGTON UMC
What are the steps in our discernment process?
PRAYER
A group of 9 people met monthly from July through December of 2022 to pray for guidance and grace as they reviewed information related to the current option to “disaffiliate” from the United Methodist Church. They invited everyone in our congregation to ask questions and they did their best to provide clear answers, given the most current information available.
INFORMATION
The Discernment Team made it a priority to be as open as possible about their work. As an example, this webpage was put together so that everyone would have access to information that the Discernment Team was considering. There is a large volume of information and the options to consider continue to change, but the team responded faithfully. When the team was formed, they were asked to make a recommendation to the Church Board about whether
or not they believed that Greggton U.M.C. should enter into a formal 40-day discernment process that has been recommended by the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church; the Annual Conference to which Greggton U.M.C. belongs. At the end of the 40 days, most congregations hold a Charge Conference and the members vote regarding whether to disaffiliate. Disaffiliation means that our congregation would cut ties with the
United Methodist Church. It does not specify which, if any other, denomination Greggton would join.
It seems that there are new questions every day, so the form below is a great way to help us
get your questions to the people who can provide the information you need.
or not they believed that Greggton U.M.C. should enter into a formal 40-day discernment process that has been recommended by the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church; the Annual Conference to which Greggton U.M.C. belongs. At the end of the 40 days, most congregations hold a Charge Conference and the members vote regarding whether to disaffiliate. Disaffiliation means that our congregation would cut ties with the
United Methodist Church. It does not specify which, if any other, denomination Greggton would join.
It seems that there are new questions every day, so the form below is a great way to help us
get your questions to the people who can provide the information you need.
GATHERINGS
We held a series of church-wide gatherings focused on issues being raised in this discussion. The gatherings addressed the following questions: how do we read the Bible?; how do we interpret Scripture concerning marriage and sexual identity?; and what are some pluses and minuses of the existing United Methodist Church?
THE BOARD'S DECISION
The Church Board then met to conduct regular business, but most notably, to vote on whether to adopt the recommendation of the Discernment Team. That vote passed.
REPORT FROM THE DISCERNMENT TEAM FOLLOWING THE TOWN HALL MEETING
The congregation gathered to hear the recommendation of the Discernment Team and discuss all aspects of the issues before us. Dr. Phil Farmer reported that the Discernment Team’s recommendation was that our congregation begin the formal discernment process. Following the report, some had questions that we did our best to answer. Some spoke about their own understanding of God’s leading. Despite the serious subject matter and potential for hurt feelings, anyone who attended will tell you that those who spoke did so in a spirit of kindness.
THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT AND THE CHURCH BOARD MEET
The formal 40-day congregational discernment process begins with a meeting of the District Superintendent and the Church Board. That meeting is scheduled for Sunday, February 12, 2003 at 3:00PM. As always, any member of Greggton U.M.C. is welcome to attend meetings of the Church Board.
