Charles Emery, newly-elected board of trustees chair of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference of the United Methodist Church, gave the following statement concerning the Conference’s Disaffiliation Policy as some churches consider discontinuing their membership.
As members of the Board of Trustees of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference (Trustees) we are deeply committed to the mission and ministry of this conference and take our fiduciary responsibility to that mission very seriously. Whether through the vows of confirmation, ordination, or consecration, we are called to serve and steward the ministry of The United Methodist Church (UMC).
Since 1972, the UMC has struggled with how to welcome, include, and incorporate members of the LGBTQIA+ community into the full life of the church. This struggle has evidenced itself at every session of General Conference since that time and has caused conflicts and divisions within annual and central conferences.
We lament the further division and separation within the Body of Christ and the UMC. We firmly believe that persons of differing theological interpretations can worship, serve, and make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world together. And yet, we understand that not everyone shares that belief.
Two additional meetings were held on April 12, 2022, and June 30, 2022, to revisit those decisions. On each subsequent occasion the initial decisions were upheld. The Trustees also met with leadership from the Wesleyan Covenant Association on June 7, 2022, to hear their concerns. From this timeline it should be clear that every decision was made only after deep prayer, robust deliberation and by balancing our fiduciary duty to protect the future mission and ministry of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference, while also facilitating a process for disaffiliation as provided for in Para. 2553.
The Trustees were advised to publish the revised policy prior to the Annual Conference Session, including a grandfathering clause that would apply to churches that had already held at least one duly called charge conference to officially discuss disaffiliation prior to Annual Conference. That advice was not heeded. We apologize for and deeply regret failing to heed that request and understand that it has created some confusion and, for some, a loss of trust. Under my leadership as new Trustee chair, we commit to sharing information in a timely manner.
While we understand that not everyone will agree with these revisions, we believe that they balance our responsibility to future ministry within the Peninsula-Delaware Conference and the opportunity for disaffiliation with UMC property.
— By clicking this link you can read the newly revised policy, posted on the Peninsula-Delaware Conference website. Mr. Emery also shares a video message of his remarks as well.