Over the next several weeks, we will be sharing a series of articles focusing on the legislative items that will be brought to the annual conference session on June 6-8, 2025, in Mitchell, S.D. Clergy and lay members are reminded to register for annual conference before May 15 and to attend one of the pre-conference webinars held on May 27, 29 and June 1.

*****

General Conference 2020/24. (Photos by Dave Stucke, Dakotas Conference Communications)

At the 2024 General Conference, delegates from around the world approved a petition that would create a path for disaffiliated churches to reaffiliate in the future. The petition required that each annual conference affected by disaffiliation develop and adopt a specific policy for their conference.

The original petition that was considered in the legislative committee laid out a very specific set of requirements for churches requesting reaffiliation. However, committee members wrestled with the extensive nature of the process that was mandated in the language of the original petition. The committee opted to leave the details of the process up to each annual conference.

Focusing on a spirit of grace, the committee replaced the original verbiage with “With a spirit of grace, we welcome those churches which have disaffiliated or withdrawn to rejoin The United Methodist Church. Where applicable, every annual conference shall have a policy of reaffiliation for the churches seeking to return to the connection.”

When the petition was discussed in plenary, a final sentence was added: “Each such policy shall require that reaffiliating churches affirm their commitment to the Trust Clause in ¶2503.” With the addition of this amendment, the petition was approved 629-96. 

The Dakotas Conference appointive cabinet, in consultation with the conference board of trustees and common table, have developed a policy and process to be affirmed by the Annual Conference.

“In recognition of the sacred calling of the Church to be a home for all who seek to walk in the way of Christ, we understand the necessity of providing a pathway for reaffiliation,” shared Bishop Lanette Plambeck. “Beyond responding to misperception, misunderstanding, misinformation, or disinformation, we are guided by a deeper theological truth: the Church is called to embody the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)”

Delegates at General Conference 2020/24.

“Just as Christ opens wide the arms of grace, so too must the Church be ever ready to receive those who, for a time, journeyed apart but now seek to return. Reaffiliation is not merely an administrative act; it is a sacred witness to the unbroken covenant of God's love, the enduring call to Christian community, and the Spirit’s persistent work of healing and restoring the Body of Christ.”

“In offering a clear and gracious reaffiliation policy, we honor the gospel imperative to be a Church where reconciliation is an act of hope, trust, and faithfulness to the One who prayed that we might be one, as he and the Father are one (John 17:21),” she added.

*****

Title: Policy of Reaffiliation for Local Churches Seeking Readmission to The United Methodist Church

Information submitted and affirmed by: The Dakotas Conference Board of Trustees and Appointive Cabinet jointly present this policy

Action: Implementation of policy to be effective July 1, 2025

Rationale: Per the action of the 2020/2024 General Conference: “With a spirit of grace, we welcome those churches which have disaffiliated or withdrawn to rejoin The United Methodist Church. Where applicable, every annual conference shall have a policy of reaffiliation for the churches seeking to return to the connection. Each such policy shall require that reaffiliating churches affirm their commitment to the Trust Clause in ¶2503.” The 2020/2024 Book of Discipline ¶2553

1) Eligibility for Reaffiliation

a) A local church that was previously affiliated with the Dakotas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church (“Dakotas Conference”) is eligible for reaffiliation with the Dakotas Annual Conference after completing the following minimum requirements: 

i) satisfy the Conference Board of Trustees that all church deeds include the trust clause as required by The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church (Book of Discipline.), and cover all real and personal, tangible and intangible properties of the church

ii) satisfy the Conference Board of Trustees, Common Table and the Appointive Cabinet that the local church will comply with the requirements and criteria of the Dakotas Annual Conference for the organization of a local United Methodist Church under ¶259.1 and ¶259.4, as determined by the Common Table and the Appointive Cabinet (Cabinet).

2) Local Church Discernment

a) The leaders of a local church that wish to reaffiliate will first contact the District Superintendent (DS) of the area in which the local church is located to share their interest. The DS, at least one Conference Trustee, and one member from the District Board of Church Location and Building, will meet with the leaders of the local congregation to understand the reasons for the local church’s current desire to reaffiliate with the Dakotas Conference, and to help the church discern if it desires to reaffiliate.  A review of key sections of the Book of Discipline is required, including our Doctrinal Statements, The General Rules, The Ministry of All Christians, the section on the Local Church, and the Social Principles.

b) As part of their discernment, local church leaders will provide a written rationale to the District Superintendent for reaffiliation with The United Methodist Church (UMC). This written statement should clearly express both their understanding of what it means to be a United Methodist Congregation and their willingness to support the UMC and the Dakotas Annual Conference with their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.

3) Annual Conference Leadership Discernment

a) The DS will forward the written request and rationale to the Cabinet, or other Cabinet designated committee, which shall review this document. That body shall also evaluate the missional impact of the local church seeking reaffiliation on its community, on neighboring United Methodist congregations, and on planned or potential United Methodist ministries.

b) If the Cabinet makes the determination to proceed, they will forward the request and rationale document to the Common Table for their discernment and decision.

c) If the Common Table affirms moving forward, then the District Superintendent is authorized to work with the local church leaders to establish a timeline for the following required church actions.

4) Local Church Reaffiliation Approval

a) The legally authorized leadership body of the local church, at a duly called meeting of such body, must adopt by appropriate legal vote the following resolution requesting reaffiliation and acknowledging the applicability of the trust clause:  “Resolved that     Church become a member congregation of The Dakotas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and thereby become subject to all provisions of The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2020/2024 and all subsequent editions of The Book of Discipline, including but not limited to the provisions of Paragraphs 2501 through 2505, providing that all the local church’s real and personal property shall be held in trust for The United Methodist Church. Our leadership is authorized to take all actions necessary to implement this resolution in accordance with The Book of Discipline, by a deed including the relevant trust clause language as found in ¶2503 of The 2020/2024 Book of Discipline.”  

i) Upon adoption of the resolution, the presiding officer of the meeting and its secretary will sign a document (e.g., the minutes of the meeting) setting forth the resolution adopted and the vote by which it was adopted and submit it to the District Superintendent in charge.

b) After the local church leadership body has met the foregoing requirements, the membership of the local church, at a duly called church conference (¶248) or congregational meeting of professing or full church members, must adopt, by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting, the same resolution adopted by the leadership body as required in paragraph (4a) above.

i) Upon adoption of the resolution the presiding officer of the church conference or congregational meeting, elected leaders of the local church, and its secretary must sign a document (e.g., the minutes of the meeting) which sets forth the resolution in its entirety, lists all members present and voting at the meeting, and reports the results of the vote.

ii) If approved, the DS will work with the church leadership to begin making any church organizational changes needed to align with Disciplinary requirements as laid out in ¶259.9. The process of organizing as a United Methodist Church must be in compliance with relevant portions of ¶259 and ¶2529.1c.

5) Annual Conference Approval

a) After the local church has met the foregoing requirements, the DS in charge shall return a report of this action to the Bishop, the Cabinet, and the Conference Board of Trustees for final majority approval of each body. At the next regular session of the Dakotas Annual Conference, the request for reaffiliation will be presented during the Conference Board of Trustees report to the Annual Conference which may, by simple majority, vote to receive the church into the Dakotas Annual Conference.

6) Completion of Reaffiliation Process

a) Upon acceptance into the Dakotas Annual Conference, the local church shall have 90 days following the close of the regular session of the Dakotas Annual Conference to present revised deeds, showing proof of being filed with the appropriate County Recorder's Office or Register of Deeds, to the Conference Board of Trustees in order for the reaffiliation process to be completed. The local church shall be responsible for any and all costs associated with revising and filing their deeds. The Conference Board of Trustees will forward a Reaffiliation Certificate to the local church upon receipt of all required documents. The requirements of this paragraph are necessary for readmission of the local church to The United Methodist Church. Approval of the Annual Conference for readmission of the local church to The United Methodist Church is subject to the local church’s compliance with the requirements under this paragraph.

7) Care of Members of a Reaffiliated Congregation

a) Persons who withdrew their membership within The United Methodist Church as part of disaffiliation or at any other time may return to professing membership within the reaffiliated congregation and The United Methodist Church under the provisions of ¶242.3; that is, upon reaffirmation of their baptismal and membership vows.

b) Persons who united with the disaffiliated congregation but who previously were not United Methodist may become professing members of the reaffiliated congregation and The United Methodist Church under the provisions of ¶259.6.