Hope and Emmet UMC disaffiliation approved
HOT SPRINGS – A Special Session of the Arkansas Annual Conference was held at the Hot Springs Convention Center Saturday with Bishop Laura Merrill presiding.
The special session was called to address “the consideration of ratification of disaffiliation agreements from the Conference Board of Trustees with various congregations of the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church…”
Among the United Methodist churches approved by a block vote to ratify their disaffiliation requests was Harmony in Emmet.
The Arkansas United Methodist churches that were voted upon individually included Hope First United (pictured.) The conference ratified the disaffiliation agreement for Hope First United Methodist Church by a vote of 249 to 216
Bishop Laura Merrill shared, “Today was a difficult day for the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church, but I am grateful for the grace that Conference members extended to each other and to me as we accomplished our work.”
“I look forward to healing and continued ministry with United Methodists who lost their church home today, and I trust that God will open a new and fruitful path before us. We will move forward in faith, sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ with our neighbors,” Bishop Merrill stated.
The Hope congregation has the following statement on their web page:
As a church family we are living in uncertain times. At our Church Conference on March 29, the congregation voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. This decision must be ratified by members of the Arkansas Conference on May 13. What if they don’t ratify our congregation’s vote to disaffiliate? What if they do? It seems as if we have more questions than answers.
Psychologists recommend that when facing times of anxiety and uncertainty, we should control what we can, prepare for possible scenarios as best we can, and continue to persevere one day at a time. As our questions get answers we can proceed in making necessary decisions. We will continue with our usual weekly schedule of activities, Sunday School, and worship. We will be in mission in our community. We will minister to one another and those outside our congregation. Let us pray that God will guide us through these trying times.
My prayer is that we will remain together as a church family, continuing to love one another, support one another and pray for one another. May we not allow the distractions and difficulties of the disaffiliation process to dissuade us from fulfilling our mission of developing deeply devoted disciples of Jesus Christ.
-Pastor Steve Johnson