Discernment FAQ's

Questions about Cornerstone UMC's Discernment Process

Here are some questions and answers coming from our congregational survey and information meetings.  

For more information please visit…

  • Discernment Process – outlines the process Cornerstone UMC is following to consider its denominational affiliation.
  • Discernment Resources – articles, videos and more on the current landscape of the UMC, the Global Methodist Church, and more.

 

Q&A with Bishop Jones - 8/14/22

On Sunday, August 14, Cornerstone hosted a Q&A session with our Bishop Scott Jones.  Some really good questions were asked, and some super helpful responses were provide.  Worth the watch!!

General FAQs

Due to ongoing division and conflict taking place in the United Methodist Church denomination, congregations across the U.S. are considering the best denominational affiliation for their future based on their theological and missional convictions.

Our congregation’s tradition of and commitment to upholding the witness of Scripture as inspired and authoritative for all matters of faith and practice is the key reason why Cornerstone UMC is discerning its future denominational affiliation and considering leaving the United Methodist Church.

The paragraph in the UMC Book of Discipline that allows for this path of disaffiliation was put in place as a temporary measure and will expire on December 31, 2023.

In June 2022, Bishop Scott Jones announced his retirement effective December 31, 2022, citing “increasing disobedience and escalating conflict in the denomination.” Bishops, Annual Conferences, and Jurisdictions have practiced widespread disregard of our denomination’s Book of Discipline in recent years, rendering group decision-making moot and communal discernment of denomination-wide policies ineffective.  (The UMC Is More Traditional than Ever, but It Doesn’t Matter)

Currently, Cornerstone UMC is one of at least 190 churches within the Texas Annual Conference in an official discernment process. That number is expected to increase.

Very little.

Cornerstone UMC has a short, but strong history of orthodox Methodist Christian witness, holding to scripture as our authority for faith and life, welcoming and inviting all to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Our mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus, and that will continue in our ministries and life together.

The Texas Annual Conference has put forth a seven-step process for congregations to disaffiliate from the UMC: 1) complete an 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.

See our Discernment Resources page for more info on Texas Annual Conference resources.

If we vote this fall to disaffiliate, our effective date would be December 31, 2022.

If we vote to disaffiliate, we would also need to decide whether to join another denomination or to remain an independent congregation.

For reference, though Cornerstone has always been a UMC, the UMC is relatively new, having been founded only in 1968. There are many vibrant expressions of Methodism today, some of which broke off of the Methodist Church prior to the United Methodist Church being created.

Denominational affiliation provides supportive and collaborative connections for mission work and ministry beyond the local church, as well as credentialing, supply, and accountability of clergy.

All full members of Cornerstone UMC would be invited to participate in a church conference and vote. The vote will require a 2/3 majority of all members present and voting.

Your church membership would not be impacted. Your membership resides with our local congregation and will be here regardless of denominational affiliation.

If the church leaves the UMC, the legal name would be changed to remove “United.” For example, we could become “Cornerstone Methodist Church.”

It won’t.  The Pre-school is a ministry of Cornerstone UMC.  As long as Cornerstone exists, the Pre-school will too.

Human Sexuality FAQs

News media coverage typically highlights stories about UMC clergy and congregations advocating for or against marrying same-sex couples in the church or ordaining non-celibate gay clergy. The news media also centers on stories about congregations leaving the denomination due to their stance on LGBTQ issues.

Differences regarding human sexuality and marriage are only one contributing factor to division in the UMC, but it is certainly not the most important.  Other more significant issues include theological differences on Jesus (incarnation, divinity, saving death on the cross, physical resurrection), and the Bible (whether or not it is divinely inspired and the final authority for our belief and practice), as well as institutional integrity among the UMC’s leadership.

The United Methodist Church Book of Discipline has maintained the same stance since 1972. Paragraph 4 says, “All persons are of sacred worth.” Paragraph 214 says, “All people may attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments and become members.” Paragraph 304.3 says, “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.”  (UMC Stance on LGBTQ Issues)

Cornerstone has abided by the Book of Discipline and will continue to do so. Though the stance has been consistent and clear, some progressive clergy, congregations, bishops, and annual conferences across the denomination have disregarded it with no accountability.

Cornerstone is not aligned with continuing efforts across the UMC to change or defy the Book of Discipline’s stance.

Yes. Cornerstone UMC acknowledges that all people are of sacred worth to God. Therefore, LGBTQ persons are welcome to membership and participation in the life and ministries of Cornerstone UMC. We treat everyone with grace, dignity, and respect.

It is correct that nothing “official” has changed in the UMC.  However, several things give every indication  the UMC will change considerably in the next few years.  Recent actions of Annual Conferences, Jurisdictions, Boards of Ordained Ministry, UMC advocacy groups, bishops and key leaders in the wider UMC are unapologetically contrary to the UMC’s Book of Discipline.  Furthermore, published statements of non-conformity to current standards as well as statements of intention regarding the future direction of the UMC indicate continued actions that run contrary to our Book of Discipline.  Factor into this the mass exodus of Traditionalist churches and clergy, and one can easily project a rapid progressive turn for the UMC’s future.  In essence, even though the ‘wording’ in the Book of Discipline has not changed, actual adherence to its standards among many in leadership has.

Finance, Property, and Legal FAQs

The financial obligations for disaffiliation in the Texas Annual Conference are favorable to local churches compared with other conferences in the U.S. Our conference has two requirements: 1) pay in full the previous year’s apportionments and the current year’s apportionments (funds that support the conference structure and joint ministry), and 2) pay in full the unfunded pension liability (the church’s obligation to the pension for it’s retired clergy and surviving spouses).

The financial impact of waiting is less clear. The above impact is the current practice of our conference, under the leadership of our present bishop and conference trustees. We will have a new bishop as of January 1, 2023. While the above policy might continue, it could also change. Some other conferences, under different leadership have required future years’ apportionments (instead of only past and current years) plus 25% or 50% of the appraised value of a local church’s properties.

Completing the disaffiliation process and requirements from the Texas Annual Conference will ensure that we leave UMC with our property and material assets, free of any trust clause referencing the denomination.

The trust clause is a claim made by the UMC and written into the church’s articles of incorporation that grants ownership rights of local church properties to the Annual Conference. This is a historic practice that was originally intended to safeguard the integrity of the teaching and ministry of a congregation. Cornerstone UMC will be released from the claim of the trust clause upon final vote of approval for disaffiliation by the Texas Annual Conference.

There is no legal risk when a church follows the seven steps for disaffiliation required by the Texas Annual Conference.

If the church votes to disaffiliate, we would still continue to be a 501(c)3 organization.

Clergy & Staff FAQs

Both Pastors Heather and David are supportive of our congregation’s process to discern which denominational affiliation will serve our church best for the future. With our bishop and others, they lament the current division within the denomination and blatant disregard of our Book of Discipline practiced by an increasing number of our US clergy, congregations, bishops, and conferences.

Pastor Heather is committed to helping Cornerstone UMC find the best fit for its future. Eventually, Heather will transfer her ordination credentials to the Global Methodist Church.  

As a retired UM clergy Pastor David will maintain his credentials in the United Methodist Church, due to personal financial considerations. In the retired status, he can serve wherever he chooses and is excited to continue his ministry with Cornerstone UMC, whichever direction they choose to go.

Non-clergy staff will not be impacted.

Other Resources

Email Us for more info