The Book Of Discipline: A Guide
The Discipline is the book of law of theUnited Methodist Church. The 2016 book contains the Constitution, Doctrine and Doctrinal Statements, General Rules, and Social Principles of the church. It contains sections on The Mission and Ministry of the Church, The Local Church, The Ministry of the Ordained, The Superintendency, The Conferences, Administrative Order, Church Property, and Judicial Administration. It contains a historical statement on the church, and a list of all bishops. As the book is revised every four years, each volume may have different sections, and paragraphs or sections may be re-numbered, re-worded, or completely re-written.
The most recent UMC discipline is available online as an e-book through Cokesbury Press. Older disciplines are available as print books. The most recent print version, as well as reference copies of the Spanish and Korean editions, can be found in our Reference Section. The rest can be found in the open stacks and research collections. Disciplines prior to 1968 can be found by searching the denomination, year, and title. As there are quite a few records, following the name changes of the church, if you need help please stop by and see a librarian – we will help you sort them out!
The Book Of Discipline And The Um Handbook
The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church
The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church outlines denominational law, doctrine, administration, organizational work and procedures.
The United Methodist Handbook
The handbook is among the best resources for laity providing leadership, people new to The United Methodist Church and clergy who occasionally get stumped by a question. It includes United Methodist teachings, church structure and organization, denominational initiatives, what it means to be a worldwide church, connectional giving information, a glossary of United Mthodist terms and much more.
Why You Should Be Worried About The Split In The Methodist Church
Protestants are splitting up over LGBTQ issues. In the 1840s, it was slavery that opened a rift.
POLITICO illustration/Photo by AP Photo
12/09/2022 08:01 AM EST
Joshua Zeitz, a Politico Magazine contributing writer, is the author of Building the Great Society: Inside Lyndon Johnson’s White House. Follow him @joshuamzeitz.
Last weekend, over 400 Methodist churches in Texas voted to leave their parent denomination, the United Methodist Church . Their decision followed the mass exodus of Methodist congregations in other Southern states, including North Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Arkansas and Florida.
The departing congregations joined the more conservative Global Methodist Church over concerns that the UMC has grown too liberal on key cultural issues most importantly, LGBTQ rights. They are part of a larger schism within other mainline Protestant denominations , ostensibly over the propriety of same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy, though in reality, over a broader array of cultural touchpoints involving sexuality, gender and religious pluralism.
At first blush, this might seem like an issue thats peripheral to American politics a purely religious matter. But its actually an indicator of just how fractured our politics have become. And if history is any indication, its about to get even worse.
Want to read more stories like this? POLITICO Weekend delivers gripping reads, smart analysis and a bit of high-minded fun every Friday.
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Book Of Discipline Paragraphs 25482 & 2553
The following is the official language of Paragraphs 2553 and 2548.2 found in The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church.
¶2548.2. Transfer of a Congregation to Another Denomination
With the consent of the presiding bishop and of a majority of the district superintendents and of the district board of church location and building and at the request of the charge conference or of a meeting of the membership of the local church, where required by local law, and in accordance with said law, the annual conference may instruct and direct the board of trustees of a local church to deed church property to one of the other denominations represented in the Pan-Methodist Commission or to another evangelical denomination under an allocation, exchange of property, or comity agreement, provided that such agreement shall have been committed to writing and signed and approved by the duly qualified and authorized representatives of both parties concerned.
¶ 2553. Disaffiliation of a Local Church Over Issues Related to Human Sexuality