Affiliation Vote - Feb 19th, 2023

• Join the Global Methodist Church
• Become an Independent congregation

• Global Methodist most aligns with Traditional UMC Doctrine and Discipline with some modifications though currently forming and being led under transitional Leadership until their 1st General Conference estimated to be later 2023 or early 2024 thus allowing incoming UMC churches and Conferences to participate in that decision-making process.
• Tithing apportionment lowered to 6.5% is anticipated.
• Traditionalist view of Biblical interpretation of Human Sexuality, marriage, LGTB+
• Bishops, Clergy and Church leadership
• No Trust Clause - Individual congregations retain ownership of local church assets not held in trust by the larger conference.
• Churches with majority vote can disaffiliate without financial recourse and/or a long, lengthy dictated process.
• Term Limits on Bishops
• Local Churches have more say in placement of Pastoral Staff.

• Total say in Doctrine and Discipline formation…downside is it will take considerable effort and strong Lay Leadership to retain.
• No tithing apportionment. All finances to be used at the discretion of the Local church to fund staffing, Ministry, Missions, and Community Outreach.
• Church assets remain the property of the local church.
  o 100% say in Church’s Pastoral and staff appointments, terms, salary etc. Downside is
  no pool or assistance to place one either. An Independent Church would be 100 percent
  responsible meeting the Salary, Retirement, Insurance, and Parsonage funding.
• Opportunity to be more inclusive and/or make Disciples of Christ that are not in alignment with portions of the doctrine or disciplines of traditional denominations/conference or synods.
  • Historically speaking, larger organizations tend to
    become encumbered with higher church policy and
    can get increasingly autocratic
• Can still consider alignment with other like-minded Independents or join associations like Independent Association of Methodist Churches.
  • IMA is not a denomination but an association that helps fill in the gaps otherwise offered by the Higher Church body.
  • Items like assistance in finding Pastors and Staff. Camps and Retreats. Traditional Methodist publications, etc.

• Doctrine and Discipline - Must align with Traditional Biblical Interpretation of Scripture and closely align with that of Santa Claus United Methodist historical positions.
• Trust Clause - Where Church’s assets are required to be held.
• Tithing appropriation required by prospective affiliation options
• Disaffiliation/Separation Policy should a church’s membership not align in future.
• Inclusiveness of membership and roles within Church body. Not gender or race restrictive.
• Progressive vs Traditionalist learnings now and in future.
• Other Considerations:
  • How Pastor and Staff is placed - Church’s voice in this process?
  • Viewpoints on Teetotalism (alcohol use) and membership in associations and societies.
  • Terms for Leadership of Higher Church (Bishops for instance if applicable).

• To know how best to align in the future, we first need to know who we are, which is:
  • Christian, Protestant, Traditional Wesleyan/Arminian Methodist

• Catholic
  • Although the Catholic church of today has had some changes since the beginning of the Protestant Reformation beginning in 1517, stark differences remain between Roman Catholic and Protestant denominations that could take hours to discuss and quantify.
• Protestant (Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Etc.)
  • Though there is alignment with some doctrine and discipline, there are obvious differences in those interpretations and accepted belief systems. Open vs
    closed Communion, Sacraments, Free will vs Predestination, etc. to name a few.
  • Some already have Progressive and Traditional Branches.
• Other Wesleyan/Methodist Options:
  • Many Protestant denominations have local churches in or close proximity to Santa Claus for those who want/feel that best aligns with their beliefs.
  • Besides Global and United Methodist, There are numerous conferences like the Wesleyan Church, Free Methodist, Church of the Nazarene, and others which our history does align with in a traditional Wesleyan/Arminian sense.
  • In some cases, they tend to be even more conservative within their membership by Race, Use of Alcohol (teetotalism), and allowance of membership in societies
    like masons, etc.
  • Many of these branches of Methodism are headed down a progressive vs traditional split in the next 5 to 10 years. All require church assets to be placed
    in Trust (Free Methodist allows a possible waiver for UMC churches joining).
  • Tithing apportionment is equal to or greater than the 11+ percent required currently by UMC conferences.
  • There is no current disaffiliation process, should an individual church decide to separate in the future.
  • Here, too, there are local options within a reasonable distance from Santa Claus should individuals feel better aligned with.
• Becoming a satellite or branch of another Independent or Non-denominational Church through affiliation vs association.
  • May lose identity as a local church or lose voice all together in decision making, doctrine and discipline.

• All currently registered SCUMC Members
  • No members have or could be removed from the registry without a lengthy process and Charge conference as dictated by the United Methodist Book of Discipline which we will adhere to until July 1st.
  • In essence, if you were a voting member during the November disaffiliation vote, you
    are still a member and eligible to cast your ballot during this vote.
• Non-SCUMC Members who are active participants who currently contribute their time, talents and treasures to SCUMC or intend to going forward with the newly aligned church.
  • We understand that the decisions being made now will affect our church beyond our affiliation with the United Methodist Church. Therefore, anyone who has an interest in
    how our church will function when outside the umbrella of the UMC may cast a ballot.
• Must be 7th grade or above (Confirmation age)

• In-Person: 10:15 am CST on Sunday, February 19, 2023 at Santa Claus UMC
• Online: 10:15 am CST on Sunday, February 19, 2023 via Sli.do.
• By Mail: You can request a ballot from the office or download one here. 
• By Email: Send an email with your vote to vote@santaclausumc.org. 

1. Visit Sli.do on your mobile device or desktop computer.
2. Enter #SCVote as the Room Code next to “Joining as a participant?”
3. In the poll that appears, please select your desired option

Santa Claus UMC
351 N. Holiday Blvd.
Santa Claus, IN 47579

• GLOBAL METHODIST

• INDEPENDENT