Lester Memorial | Prayer and Discernment Process

PRAYER AND DISCERNMENT

There was a vote of the church membership on November 6th at 2pm, in which 81% voted for disaffiliation. There is a follow up meeting on November 28th at 6pm in the Upper Room.

The "Prayer and Discernment" team here at LMUMC have been meeting. We entered the 3-to-6-month long process in May 2022 regarding issues and disagreements within the United Methodist Church. More information regarding the process can be picked up at church. We also have a "link" on our church website with more information. The "Prayer and Discernment" team deeply appreciates your prayers as we move forward.

The team set aside three Sunday's (August 7, 14, and 21) at 10:00 a.m. in the Upper Room for "Q & A" time and sharing information. These sessions are archived

Lester YouTube Page

Please seek God through prayer. Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom and guide us in His will, as we make the best decisions for Lester Memorial church.

Video Resource Library

Category	Title	Link to Original Document	Date
Article Summarizing the Current Situation	Article by UMC Bishop Mike Lowry reflecting his experiences with UMC leaders who do not believe in the Trinity, the Divinity of Jesus, and embrace universal salvation not needing the salvation through Jesus Christ	https://firebrandmag.com/articles/a-fight-for-the-faith- delivered-once-for-all	6/29/2022
Article Summarizing the Current Situation	Describes the pointlessness of having doctrines, church law, and the Discipline when bishops refuse to, or arbitrarily enforce it, causing a dysfunction, unmanageable organization	https://juicyecumenism.com/2022/06/02/traditional- umc/	6/2/2022
Article Summarizing the Current Situation	The time for a congregation to disaffiliate is much shorter than it may seem because or required discernment timelines	https://juicyecumenism.com/2022/07/28/time-is- running-out-for-traditionalist-united-methodists/	7/28/2022
Article Summarizing the Current Situation	Describes how openness to all emerging sexual identities may eventually erode the concepts of monogamy and adultery.	https://juicyecumenism.com/2021/07/19/post- separation-united-methodist-sexual-morality-beyond- gay-weddings/	7/19/2021
Article Summarizing the Current Situation	Adam Hamilton describes his "Three Buckets" approach to Biblical interpretation which erodes the authority Scripture, leaving the right to reject undesired passages to the reader	https://drive.google. com/file/d/1SE8EqOvhMlg2P4FodP5uLW70XnggsUy g/view?usp=sharing	3/11/2014
Article Summarizing the Current Situation	Methodist Cleric on Bible: Not Reliable	https://juicyecumenism.com/2022/06/15/methodist- david-felten/	6/15/2022
Article Summarizing the Current Situation	Adam Hamilton's address at Asbury UMC in Birmingham	https://m.youtube.com/watch? v=89ziGc0tWkQ&t=697s	5/11/2022
Article Summarizing the Current Situation	A Thinking Christian’s Response to “Adam Hamilton Comes to Birmingham”	https://newmethodistmovement.org/a-thinking- christians-response-to-adam-hamilton-comes-to- birmingham/	5/16/2021
Article Summarizing the Current Situation	YouTube video of both the transgender "Penny Cost" preaching in drag, and the Chapel Service at Duke where God is referred to as "The Holy and Queer One"	https://m.youtube.com/watch? v=HBs5Pxn8yjI&feature=youtu.be	5/19/2022
Article Summarizing the Current Situation	An outside article explaining the broader Biblical and creedal principles at stake in the current human sexuality debate	https://www.getreligion.org/getreligion/2022/7/20/why- are-united-methodists-at-war-readers-need-to-know- that-sexuality-isnt-the-only-fault-line	7/20/2022
Bishops' Actions	Council of Bishops's hope for unity	https://www.stayumc.com/wp- content/uploads/2022/01/anarrativeforthecontinuingun itedmethodistchurch.... _.pdf	11/4/2021
Bishops' Actions	Part 1 of an article aimed at disputing the arguments being made about violation of church law and doctrine by quoting the current discipline, while not revealing fully how many bishops are simply not enforcing the Discipline.	https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the- umc-really-part-1	7/20/2022
Bishops' Actions	Part 2 of an article aimed at disputing the arguments being made about violation of church law and doctrine by quoting the current discipline, while not revealing fully how many bishops are simply not enforcing the Discipline.	https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the- umc-really-part-2	7/20/2022
Financial Implications	Wespath explains how pensions will be handled for individauls in disaffiliation	https://www.wespath.org/News/CEO-Blog-0001#! /page:1	4/29/2022
Financial Implications	Wespath policies regarding how pensions are treated for clergy departing the UMC	https://drive.google. com/file/d/1_pQLrzOEZe9Tbo2dJizPOIXr- qx5I3bx/view?usp=sharing	6/15/2022
General	Summary of the UMC struggles	https://peopleneedjesus.net/2022/04/01/the- deficiencies-of-disaffiliation/	4/1/2022
General	Article about the history of schisms in Methodism	https://www.catalystresources.org/reform-and- separation-from-a-wesleyan-perspective/	5/2/2022
General	African Pastor describes difficulty in Africa of changing the definition of marriage away from Scripture	https://juicyecumenism.com/2022/06/03/jerry-kulah- on-africa-united-methodist-split/	5/31/2022
General	Ramifications for Local Churches of Recent Developments	https://globalmethodist.org/ramifications-for-local- churches-of-recent-developments/	3/30/2022
General Conference Postponement	Attempts to Get Vaccines to African Delegates Deemed Inappropriate	https://mailchi.mp/theird/lets-stand-with-faithful- african-umc-delegates?e=3ec38c7104	2022
General Conference Postponement	Bishops, others denounce WCA’s vaccine plan	https://www.umnews.org/en/news/bishops-others- denounce-wcas-vaccine-plan? mkt_tok=MDc4LUpYUS02NDMAAAGCDyTFnfBasQ MbbhrITsyNBgNclwCHGnjkZI0sasSEkLlGvHkpZErVR JM8i9bnUuFVA7yaM- 6lOYFU08JhIcD0SwcE4shWEV2DdtvPJ8t_1pJWMw	1/18/2022

Category	Title	Link to Original Document	Date
General Conference Postponement	Early Announcement Hinting at Cancellation of 2023 GC	http://www.umglobal.org/2022/02/up-to-third-of- general-conference.html	2/4/2022
General Conference Postponement	African Delegates Request that General Conference Not be Delayed	https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JC1B-RPu- eXVUkQWLYEDO3wEvVUMiua1/view?usp=sharing	2/21/2022
General Conference Postponement	Groups offer conflicting calls on General Conference	https://www.umnews.org/en/news/delegates-urge- general-conference-delay	2/23/2022
General Conference Postponement	Official Announcement of Postponement of General Conference	https://www.umc.org/en/content/general-conference- further-postponed-to-2024	3/3/2022
Judicial Council Rulings	Court Clarifies Disaffilation Rules	https://www.umnews.org/en/news/church-court- clarifies-disaffiliation-rules	2/9/2022
Judicial Council Rulings	Good News Organizations Interpretation of Judicial Council Rulings	https://app.donorview.com/Communication/View? prm=FXGWJE8IKbpJdlwOgBRdzv_wb4aoSY5hM0E CQaDWLTPzXSwmkb7DB49tKGzbZn5SMvcsXbZpM c67IrmvsQ2tHM3Bvc00rqgzynjuYs6oKrR4hm5gwqQ GO5niPUQDbL0KMZqo47bQVUSNnkR28fzuOmvPm HZUkShhEunZBLBpW8VznhWXjYwNKUhf5pAvah4m UgeDM5PHFJnm4YVoDR- hVs8T5pGPGCOaAXMfp96tqS41	2/11/2022
Judicial Council Rulings	Bishops discern ways for churches choosing to separate from UMC; seek court's guidance on Jurisdictional Conferences	https://www.unitedmethodistbishops. org/newsdetail/bishops-discern-ways-forward-march- 15-16396297? fbclid=IwAR0rxPy519EPf AHQFQ9TwwhKp1N9Em 1mQbhHIcOLCrGRpYy_PYcJMouDM	3/16/2022
Judicial Council Rulings	North Alabama Disaffiliation Q&A's	https://www.umcna. org/files/tables/content/16410823/fields/files/065a19e c9a274a55a26732d2d98d0fbd/faq-umc2022.pdf	3/24/2022
Judicial Council Rulings	Judiciary Council rules that Annual Conferences can not leave as one	https://www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/judicial- council/judicial-council-decision-home/judicial- decisions/decision-1444	5/10/2022
Judicial Council Rulings	Judiciary Council creates new church law regarding Juristictional Conferences	https://www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/judicial- council/judicial-council-decision-home/judicial- decisions/decision-1445	5/20/2022
Judicial Council Rulings	Judiciary Council modifes the new church law it created regarding Juristictional Conferences	https://www.umnews.org/en/news/church-court- modifies-ruling-on-bishop-elections	6/1/2022
North Alabama	Disaffiliation Process for North Alabama Conference	https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BjtcIz8nJE3SN5fY- BKKNCXLbDoo8NKp/view?usp=sharing	6/1/2022
North Alabama	Strategies suggested by #stayumc to disrupt the discernment procsss of a local church	https://www.stayumc.com/disaffiliation/	7/10/2022
Other Conferences	Website of Woodlands UMC in Texas showing their research and process of discernment	https://thewoodlandsumc.org/affiliation	2022
Other Conferences	Open Letter to California-Nevada Conference Concerning Glide Memorial UMC and it not functioning as a Christian Church	https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/local-church/open- letter-to-california-nevada-conference-concerning- glide/	6/28/2018
Other Conferences	Lesbian UMC bishop facing complaint for saying Jesus held ‘bigotries,’ is being made into ‘an idol’	https://www.christianpost.com/news/lesbian-umc- bishop-complaint-jesus-held-bigotries-made-into-idol. html?clickType=link-related-articles	12/4/2018
Other Conferences	Western Jurisdiction Bishops pronounce that they will not enforce the discipline if they consider the Discipline inappropriate	https://www.gfumc.net/hp_wordpress/wp- content/uploads/2022/06/Safe-Harbor-Declaration-of- the-Western-Jurisdiction.pdf	11/6/2019
Other Conferences	Drag Queen Pastor Surprised at Being Approved for candidacy	https://juicyecumenism.com/2021/03/16/united- methodist-drag-queen-discusses-ordination- candidacy/	3/16/2021
Other Conferences	First drag queen certified as a candidate for United Methodist ministry ‘speaking in a new way to new people’	https://religionnews.com/2021/04/15/first-drag-queen- certified-as-a-candidate-for-united-methodist-ministry- speaking-in-a-new-way-to-new-people/	4/15/2021
Other Conferences	Brentwood Disaffiliation Report	https://drive.google. com/file/d/1ozAzhHeSgmABqKfweJ1XXBr3eZeyMnpr /view?usp=sharing	7/7/2021
Other Conferences	Video Featured on UMC News about Drag Queen minister	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eslnjgy45E	7/19/2021
Other Conferences	United Methodist Drag Queen Gets Star Treatment from UMNS	https://juicyecumenism.com/2021/07/22/united- methodist-drag-queen/	7/22/2021

Category	Title	Link to Original Document	Date
Other Conferences	Mt. Bethel Sued by Conference	http://eastcobbnews.com/breaking-news-mt-bethel- church-sued-by-north-georgia-umc/	9/8/2021
Other Conferences	Johnson shares her story of transitioning to trans woman	https://www.bwcumc.org/news-and-views/johnson- shares-her-story-of-transitioning-to-trans-woman/	10/11/2021
Other Conferences	Mt. Bethel Allowed Legal Representation from WCA	http://eastcobbnews.com/mt-bethel-church-allowed- to-retain-methodist-leader-in-lawsuit/	11/15/2021
Other Conferences	Iowa Bishop Allows Each Church to Determine Marriage Policy	https://www.iaumc.org/newsdetail/15777927	12/3/2021
Other Conferences	WCA Response to Iowa Defiance of Discipline	https://wesleyancovenant.org/2021/12/06/bishop- plans-to-allow-defiance-of-united-methodist-church- standards/	12/7/2021
Other Conferences	Bishop Placed on Leave by Bishop Oliveto. The Bishop on leave Intervened at Oliveto's former church since it did not reflect Christian belifs or practices	https://www.christianpost.com/news/united-methodist- church-places-progressive-bishop-minerva-carcano- on-leave-after-2-complaints.html	3/10/2022
Other Conferences	Mt. Bethel describes current state following settlement with Conference	https://fmbumc.org/what-now/	6/1/2022
Other Conferences	Bloomington church hosts drag-themed Pentecost Sunday service	https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2022-06- 06/bloomington-church-hosts-drag-themed-pentecost- sunday-service	6/6/2022
Other Conferences	Description of the Order of Elders Meeting in Florida Conference where all Provisional Candidates were voted down	https://m.facebook. com/1314355141/posts/pfbid02Fsq4A3vnLsPYxQzGri EJ8VYm6e492NNttFGsgndHW5hs7isnpYKncSbZkjx1 t2gzl/?d=n	6/10/2022
Other Conferences	The Balitmore / Washington Board of Ordained Ministry chooses to ignore Discipine requirements for ordination candidates	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q68RZhIACnU	6/10/2022
Other Conferences	Bishop Scott Jones retires two years early because "Increasing disobedience and escalating conflict"	https://drive.google. com/file/d/1cyE5uDeprEmxYlsxGPulRfkALsHLVrks/vi ew?usp=sharing	6/17/2022
Other Conferences	Explanation of how all provisional candidates for ministry were rejected because several did not pass Discipline requirements that were going to be ignored by the presiding bishop of Florida	https://www.umnews.org/en/news/florida-conference- board-caused-the-harm? mkt_tok=MDc4LUpYUS02NDMAAAGFJ68bEnWuG2i o0Vrp3xrC- jb8bh0qbs38RKe8E_lExrvzMj9mbTRr9ZfcwBTNeTfn AMb4AgW9SZ8- iFQ_obbqS15Wmztps8B0fNtJbRaAAF-w3Q	6/21/2022
Other Conferences	Historic Methodist Church started by John Wesley now hosts same sex marriages	https://www.newroombristol.org.uk/2022/06/30/same- sex-marriage-announcement/	6/30/2022
Other Conferences	A Baptist article detailing the happenings in Annual Conferences around the world in the UMC debates	https://baptistnews.com/article/summer-state-and- regional-meetings-give-a-preview-of-how-the-split-is- going-in-the-united-methodist-church/#.Yt3lwOzMK3I	6/30/2022
Potential Affiliations	Free Methodist Affiliation Agreement	https://www.gfumc.net/hp_wordpress/wp- content/uploads/2022/06/Free-Methodist-Church- Affiliation-document.pdf	2/19/2020
Potential Affiliations	Free Methodist Bishop speaks at Guntersville First UMC	https://www.youtube.com/watch? app=desktop&v=6hUTLrFCcVA&feature=youtu.be	6/5/2022
Potential Affiliations	Free Methodist Bishop speaks at Guntersville First UMC	https://juicyecumenism.com/2022/06/15/methodist- david-felten/?fbclid=IwAR02UP5UVc5NBjEMjflK6PC- D4z1tHyazBnGzXeYigyusQvzlvTaEfOjyFU	6/5/2022
Potential Affiliations	Connectional Giving formula for the Global Methodist Church	https://globalmethodist.org/connectional-funding-in- the-global-methodist-church/	6/8/2022
Potential Affiliations	A more up-to-date explanation of funding in the Global Methodist Church, indicating that maximum church apportionments would be no more than 5%	https://globalmethodist.org/connectional-funding-in- the-global-methodist-church/	6/8/2022
Potential Affiliations	How the Global Methodist church plans to provide health insurance and retirement benefits for local churches through Wespath	https://globalmethodist.org/preparing-the-way- baptisms-connectional-funding-and-benefits/	7/20/2022
Property & Trust	South Carolina Supreme Court enforces Trust Clause with Episcopal Churches	https://www.episcopalnewsservice. org/2022/04/20/south-carolina-bishop-issues-letter- on-court-decision-in-property-case/	4/20/2022
Property & Trust	California-Nevada Board of Trustees adopts disaffiliation agreement template with 20% Market Value of property	https://www.cnumc.org/newsdetails/california-nevada- board-of-trustees-adopts-disaffiliation-agreement- template-16516114? fbclid=IwAR1LIoFkU5HzZ5MgpTQn3glAE1qdRHg6zn FLDYwpD8sgwwg1FIoKZyeuyOc	6/6/2022

Category	Title	Link to Original Document	Date
Property & Trust	Missouri Courts reject law suit by local church citing that that the state has no place in settling church disputes	https://www.moumethodist.org/newsdetail/legal- update-on-morning-star-church-16541589? mkt_tok=MDc4LUpYUS02NDMAAAGFNrUJ7wbdsJZ Re7t5di7tESd2lwKfXmDPcoXMJgxu89SRU7nHnlVgV qC1ofT2MJlxc7YtAQIjEphcm1PWZ5_FVRximTZ- 4KTBBVg9dkcPt0a52A	6/23/2022
Property & Trust	Federal judge refuses to allow lawsuit by a local church challenging the trust clause in Wisconsin regardless of merits or lack thereof, because of the separation of church and state	https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-tosses- lawsuit-from-wisconsin-church-facing-land-loss-after- leaving-denomination/	7/25/2022
Protocol	The Original Protocol - Agreement	https://www.gracethroughseparation.com/the- agreement	2020
Protocol	The Original Protocol - Legislation	https://www.gracethroughseparation.com/legislation	2020
Protocol	The Original Protocol - FAQ's	https://www.gracethroughseparation.com/faqs	2020
Protocol	The Last Straw - WCA Response to sponsors of the Protocol not keeping their part of the agreement	https://wesleyancovenant.org/2022/06/09/the-last- straw/	6/10/2018
Protocol	Wespath Reversal in Protocal Agreement in Treatment of Global Methodist Churches	https://www.wespath.org/assets/1/7/5857.pdf? mkt_tok=MDc4LUpYUS02NDMAAAGDTa6qCmrp3_z WuoosOITUK_xbRSND6XC3p- TwjQDHi_mn8xJUT4w1QEvsCacWYK5dMmJOYnYa gdohEtSsYR30lbOLAGDaJpo0z0AW_zqfpE_K2A	3/21/2022
Protocol	Reversal of Support for the Protocol by those who proposed it	https://www.protocolresponse.com	6/1/2022
Protocol	Wesleyan Covenant Association response to those withdraing from the Protocol	https://wesleyancovenant.org/2022/06/09/the-last- straw/	6/10/2022
Seminaries	Students at Iliff Studying to Strenthen his Pagan Beliefs	https://www.iliff.edu/kees/	2021