I would imagine the conservatives get to keep their churches, so lm all for it.
They do, so it’s exciting
“I would imagine the conservatives get to keep their churches, so lm all for it.”
All church property belongs to the national church, not the individual churches, even though most church buildings were acquired through the financial contributions and sweat of the local congregation. The plan specifically states the church buildings and properties remain with the United Methodist Church when a split occurs. The new traditional church receives only $25 million. Churches do not have to vote to stay, only to leave. Those churches who are controlled by progressives will not be having a vote.
Consider if out of the 32,000 congregations, 10% decide to leave to form the traditionalist church. The $25 million “settlement” equals only about $7000 per church. Is this progressive plan an example of progressive Christian charity?
Once the schism occurs, how will the progressives behave. Will they seek to punish the traditionalists by raising the rent on church? Will they sell the church buildings out from under traditional congregations worshiping there? Is the real plan to jettison the conservatives and crush them financially? Sadly the history of the progressive/socialist/communist movement has been to crush and annihilate any opposition. Will this be any different?