News Archives


United Methodist panel addresses church property issues

March 31, 2006

By Linda Green*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Do the property rights of a local congregation ever supersede the rights of the denomination?

That is one of the questions U.S. civil courts are answering in the affirmative, and denominational questions related to property issues are on the rise.

As a result — and in light of secular legal and regulatory changes — the United Methodist General Council on Finance and Administration has created a panel to work on challenges facing the denomination with regard to corporate, property and trust issues.

Historically, the denomination fared well in property dispute cases, thanks to a trust clause dating back to the days of Methodism founder John Wesley. On occasions when a local congregation wanted to break away from the denomination and take the church building too, the civil courts upheld the denomination’s ownership based on the clause. In recent years, however, courts have not sided with the denomination in some cases.

The United Methodist panel on property issues organized March 17 to address the theological context of property ownership and the preservation of the denomination’s Wesleyan heritage of connectionalism. GCFA coordinates and administers finances and safeguards the legal interests and rights of the United Methodist Church.

The panel anticipates working for 12 months to develop recommendations for the GCFA, including possible changes to The Book of Discipline. Any proposed changes to the book would have to be considered by the denomination’s legislative assembly in 2008.

Specific issues identified by the panel include trust clauses, local church corporations, and property deeds. The panel will meet again April 25. People wanting to provide suggestions about property issues can do so by writing to property@gcfa.org.

 
Related Articles
UM Panel to Address Property Issues
Church property rights hinge on adhering to doctrine
State supreme court rules against conference in property case
U.S. courts address church property issues
Moscow congregation fights for its building
Judge upholds Alaska Missionary Conference’s property rights
Resources
The Trust Clause: Who Owns Our Church
General Council on Finance and Administration