Opinion ID: 2624191
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The discontinuation

Text: Following a period of conflict between members of the lay congregation of St. Paul and the regional administration of UMC, on December 8, 2001, Reverend Rachel Lieder Simeon, on behalf of the Cabinet of AMC, informed Reverend Don Strait, then interim pastor at St. Paul, and Judy Stoop, the chairperson of the Staff Parish Relations Committee, that it was the recommendation of the Cabinet of AMC that St. Paul acknowledge the need for new lay leadership. The communication informed Strait and Stoop that a formal request was being made that the lay leadership of St. Paul step aside in order to facilitate the development of new leadership. It was further recommended that the new leadership stay in office for no less than three years. On January 22, 2002, a meeting was held at St. Paul, and lay leaders were elected in a manner contrary to the wishes of AMC. Subsequently, in February 2002 Lieder Simeon recommended to AMC's Administrative Unit that UMC cease its affiliation with St. Paul. On May 22, 2002, St. Paul filed a verified complaint for a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction, and a permanent injunction asking the superior court to enjoin a vote on the discontinuation because AMC was not following the proper discontinuation procedure under the Discipline. The superior court, finding that the lawsuit concerned the internal workings of The United Methodist Church and that the court had no jurisdiction to determine the question, granted AMC's motion to dismiss the complaint. At the Annual Meeting of AMC on May 30, 2002, St. Paul was discontinued. According to the minutes, at the outset of the meeting, Bishop Paup reminded all that `we are not ownerswe are custodians.' Lieder Simeon also informed the conference: It is important to realize that we are not making a determination as to whether or not St. Paul should exist as a church. The only determination we make, as an annual conference of The United Methodist Church, is whether or not St. Paul should be continued as a United Methodist Church. The vote for discontinuance was recorded as sixty-one for discontinuance and one against discontinuance, with Robert Carlson the only person voting against discontinuance. With respect to disposition of property, the minutes read: Superintendent Rachel Lieder Simeon reminded the conference that all local church property is held in trust for the denomination. Whenever a church ceases to exist as a United Methodist entity, all the property and assets revert to the denomination. Recommendation concerning the disposition of property: The Administrative Unit of the Alaska Missionary Conference recommends that the Alaska Missionary Conference retain the title and asset[s] of the current parsonage and make the church property available to an appropriate body for continuation as a church on that site. Further, we recommend that the Board of Trustees of the Alaska Missionary Conference be empowered by the annual conference to negotiate the terms of the transfer of deed and property. If agreement cannot be reached between the parties, the trustees shall be empowered to work out another arrangement. Recommendation supported. The following recommendation was also made concerning the disposition of the membership: The cabinet recommends that the superintendent who has been in charge of St. Paul UMC contact the current membership within one month of the vote by the Annual Conference to attempt to meet with the membership and work with those who desire assistance in finding a new church home. A few days after St. Paul was discontinued, Rachel Lieder Simeon accompanied a team to Fairbanks, entered the church building and removed all books and other items that contained the identification, through word or symbol, of The United Methodist Church. The team also removed the UMC symbol from the sign, removed office equipment, changed the locks on the church building and the parsonage, and withdrew the balance from St. Paul's bank account. The team also affixed No Trespassing signs to the church. On June 6, 2002, after the discontinuation, St. Paul amended its Articles of Incorporation, deleting all references to UMC, changing its name to St. Paul Church, and changing its status from a religious corporation to a nonprofit corporation. In mid-July 2002 St. Paul concededly regained control of its parsonage and church buildings, and resumed regular worship in the church.