Bishop Timothy Whitaker on the closing of churches, which I gather is a inspired by the closing of Tampa First UMC, which I blogged about recently.
The main reason today to discontinue a congregation is that it can no longer fulfill the mission of the United Methodist Church. This is a different time than a generation ago. In the past, as long as a congregation could pay its bills, including its connectional giving, it was allowed to continue. Today, the Church expects every congregation to possess missional vitality. If the congregation is no longer able or willing to accomplish the mission of the United Methodist Church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, then the Church has a responsibility to discontinue that congregation and seek new ways to fulfill its mission in that location.
In our polity, the decision to discontinue a congregation is made by the annual conference. The authority for making this decision does not reside in the Charge Conference of the congregation. It is true that District Superintendents call a Charge Conference to permit the members to vote to discontinue voluntarily. However, this is done for pastoral reasons because it is better for the members to acknowledge and to accept the necessity and wisdom of the discontinuance. Occasionally, members lack the perspective to make this acknowledgment or to accept discontinuance, and they may even try to convince the annual conference not to vote for discontinuance. The wisdom of our system is that the authority for discontinuing a congregation resides in the annual conference, whose members are able to see the bigger picture, rather than in the congregation, whose members sometimes have difficulty being realistic or keeping a focus on the missional responsibility of the Church.
In his Commencement Address of 2011, The Translatability of the Christian Gospel, Dr. Timothy Tennant, the President of Asbury Theological Seminary, stated, “North America is on the verge of the most stunning collapst of churches in the history of the country.” But he also stated, “North America is also, simultaneously, moving into one of the most dynamic phases of fresh church planting in our history.” I think both statements are true. Congregations which served Christ’s cause well in the past will either transform or discontinue. At the same time, the Church must vigorously plant new congregations which are able to fulfill its mission today. While all of this is very painful for many of us, we need to be aware that God is re-arranging the Christian map, and that the call to mission must be the defining feature of the Church and every congregation at this moment in history.
This is a change in approach that would have huge impact across the denomination.
I am a part-time local pastor serving 
The doctrine of original sin is surely more humbling to man than the opposite: And I know not what honour we can pay to God, if we think man came out of His hands in the condition wherein he is now.
Indiana has a different approach called “Elijah Churches.” http://www.inumc.org/epistles/detail/43501
I’d feel better if there were more churches up for closure in Florida effective 6/30/11 rather than just one that happens to have a $2.5 million gift and also is the recipient of interest on a $2 million loan. This sounds worse the more I hear about it.
Very well put. Too many congregations exist today to be “family chapels” not churches that God calls to be involved in the mission of bringing reconciliation and healing to a broken and hurting world. We cannot continue using resources to prop up congregations which are committed to the mission of making disciples for the transformation of the world.
I have the privilege to serve as a lay delegate to Florida’s Annual Conference starting Tuesday. I’m in town a little early so I went to worship with FUMC Tampa this morning. I like what Bishop Whitaker is saying and I agree that if we followed that sort of plan things would be impacted. But I do agree with Creed that this is a questionable situation… especially when they are publishing lists of percent of apportionments paid and sending me a ribbon to wear because I’m at a 100% church (Don’t know what I think about that.) We obviously have quite a few churches lacking vitality. This hurts my head and my heart. I wish that the bishop or the district would have so words of comfort for those church members, maybe let them in on a big picture.
This appears to me to be an example of why we have trust issues across the connection. If there was a list of churches that were being involuntarily closed because of a lack of vitality then one could judge from there. But, to say that only one church merits this treatment is worrisome. Even if there wasn’t the additional issue of the gift that has been taken by the district (which does not appear congruent with the Discipline), you wonder what Martin Niemoller would say. Are the 14 other churches in Tampa that didn’t pay their apportionments more vital and missional than FUMC???
Creed, from what I understand they are closing 7 churches this year through the Annual Conference. This is simply the one that has gotten press. They aren’t just picking on one church.
Take a look at page 13 of their Supplement:
http://flumc.s3.amazonaws.com/B6B9E47F1DA04B98A19116B8C744D004_2011_workbook_supplement.pdf
The only one that hasn’t apparently already been closed is First Tampa. Again, there may be much more that we don’t know, but what we do know doesn’t look good.
While I agree with what they are doing in principle, how is it determined that a church is “no longer able or willing to accomplish the mission of the United Methodist Church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”? Is it judged solely on the basis of apportionment payment or is there more to it? It would be very helpful to see the criteria.
This letter was emailed to about two hundred people:
Attention: Delegates to the Annual Conference of the FLUMC
First United Methodist Church of Tampa was founded 165 years ago, in 1846. As the very first church settled in the city of Tampa, we have worked closely with the opening of other Methodist churches. We also cooperate with our downtown counterparts of various denominations to implement God’s service to our community. We are in the business of saving souls and helping our community in the downtown area which has government plans for residential growth and renewal.
Unfortunately, the District Council has decided to close our doors.
We are writing this letter after much prayer and thought.
About 40 years ago our church saw the need for a retirement complex for low income seniors. FUMC was instrumental in getting the retirement complex off the ground. It was named Methodist Place. With the help of HUD, and our sponsorship, Methodist Place became a reality. FUMC has maintained the majority of members on the board of directors at Methodist Place. Many of the residents in the complex cannot drive and some speak Spanish. There is a retired Methodist minister from Cuba living there who is more than willing to help. Several of our biggest helpers come from Methodist Place.
Several years ago Methodist Place was approached by a buyer. While in the process of negotiations they got an even higher offer. In 2011, their board of directors voted to give the proceeds of the sale of Methodist Place to FUMC. The proceeds turned out to be around $4,500,000. This money came about as a miracle in itself. The District Superintendent offered to hold the money in trust for our congregation, awaiting a viable and formal plan for ministry. Our plan of ministry for the downtown area was submitted and the District rejected it for various reasons. Now the District wants to close our church and keep the money.
FUMC has a long history of serving the community in the downtown area. We are currently active with Metropolitan Ministries, the Clothes Closet, Florida Methodist Children’s Home, Stepping Stone, Cornerstone Ministries and others.
FUMC is one block from the main Bus Terminal. Many of our active members ride the bus to church and have ministered to others on the bus to come with them to our church services. This gives us the accessibility for others to reach our doors.
We would like to emphasize that FUMC has no debts! Our buildings, parsonage, etc. are free and clear. Our apportionments are paid. Our very small staff is paid.
WE NEED YOUR HELP…… INSTEAD OF CLOSING OUR DOORS….Please vote to keep the doors to FUMC Tampa open and at least give us half the money voted by the Methodist Place Board to go to our church. The church needs this money to help a new pastor to hire a full staff and do some of the big ticket items – such as Choir Director, Youth Director, Education Director. This will put us in the position to help our downtown Tampa community and also be a great host for the 2012 Methodist General Conference.
If FUMC is shut down, the District will get the $4,500,000 and our facilities (a full city block) and all assets (including the very valuable parsonage), and First United Methodist Church of Downtown Tampa will have no chance to be of service. The only way the District Conference can get the money and our facilities is to close us down!
Love in Christ,
Caroline Tolle Roberts – Daughter of Rev. Dr. Joe A. Tolle & Elizabeth Gates Tolle
Dr. Faye B. Culp – member of FUMC for 43 years
Thank you for sharing this letter with me and my readers.