We, the undersigned, are traditional United Methodists living in South Carolina who believe in the connectional United Methodist community of churches, the tenets of our current doctrine, and approve of the practices outlined in our United Methodist Book of Discipline (2016).

We are grateful the United Methodist 2019 General Conference affirmed and continued the existing ordination of clergy standards, the sacred covenant of marriage, and human sexuality language in our Book of Discipline. However, certain UMC clergy, bishops, and jurisdictions have deliberately violated the Discipline. These actions have caused deep concern, heartbrokenness, frustration, lack of accountability, and lack of commitment to our denominational precepts. 

Currently, the Discipline continues to be selectively enforced across our connectional United Methodist Church in the United States to the detriment of scriptural truth, and our faith commitments. For decades our congregations have patiently endured, fervently prayed, and supported the UMC with apportionments only to see promises, vows, and polity broken to conform to current worldly social and political practices.  

In an effort for connectional and community peace and grace within the UMC, a group of progressive, centrist, and traditional church leaders met and through mediation negotiated a gracious separation protocol: “The Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation”. This “Protocol” was to be presented and voted on at the August 2022 General Conference. However, the 2022 General Conference was postponed until 2024. Since that postponement, a progressive group that originally participated in the mediation and supported the “Protocol” withdrew their support.

We regretfully acknowledge the United Methodist Church has come to a point of schism. The conflict over incompatible scriptural truths regarding Jesus’ Lordship, ordination standards, human sexuality language, sacred covenant of marriage, and visions for ministry serves no one and harms our witness for Jesus Christ to the world at large. We cannot wait for 2024 or beyond. 

Currently, there are three paragraphs in the Book of Disciple under which churches may separate from the UMC (Paragraphs: 2548, 2549, 2553). Each of these paths are radically different as some require tremendous financial payments to the South Carolina Annual Conference while others have much more onerous processes to follow. In addition, Paragraph 2553 sunsets at the end of 2023. Discontent continues to intensify in the South Carolina Annual Conference because our Bishop Johnathan Holston will only allow Paragraph 2549 entitled: “Disposition of Property of a Closed Local Church”. 

As we pray over the future of the United Methodist Church denomination and the schism, we fully trust our Most Holy and Gracious God to make a fair and equitable way where there is no fair and equitable way currently for South Carolina churches.  We continue to pray for Bishop Holston, SC Board of Trustees, and SCUMC leadership. We ask our South Carolina denominational leadership to make a way for local churches to graciously separate in the spirit of the “Protocol”. Our prayers are for everyone involved to experience grace, harmony, and reconciliation through a fair and equitable disaffiliation process.

There is no need for continued struggle between SC leadership and local churches.  Doing nothing and waiting until 2024 General Conference will be creating further focus off our mission: saving souls, furthering the Kingdom of our One True God, and a major drain of local church resources.

Therefore, we ask for a fair and equitable separation process to include:

1. A step-by-step, non-vindictive process, in writing by October 15, 2022,
2. Establish fair, non-punitive financial terms that do not seek to have churches buy back their property or unfairly burden churches who have been paying their fair share of apportionments and other contributions to a connectional church that has misused funds by supporting causes or events that violate the Book of Discipline,
3. Release all related alleged property rights or other claims,
4. Promptly convene a special Annual Conference to approve churches that want to separate,
5. Mediate related disputes.