UMC conference rejects 3 Arkansas churches’ disaffiliation requests: ‘Uncharted territory’

A regional body of The United Methodist Church has voted down the disaffiliation requests of three congregations in Arkansas that want to leave the mainline Protestant denomination amid a nationwide schism over the denomination’s stance on homosexuality.

Last Saturday, the UMC Arkansas Conference held a seven-hour special session at the Hot Springs Convention Center to vote on the requests of 38 congregations that voted to leave the denomination over its ongoing debate on LGBT issues.

According to a statement Monday, the conference reached a majority vote approving the disaffiliation of 35 congregations but voted down the disaffiliation requests from three churches: First United Methodist Church of Cabot, First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro and First United Methodist Church of Searcy.

“The three churches who did not receive ratification for disaffiliation, have the option to restart the process or resubmit to the next called session, which date has not been officially announced yet,” noted the statement.

The churches had all cleared the requirement of a congregational vote with at least two-thirds favoring disaffiliation…. (Excerpt from The Christian Post)