Doesn’t this local church have to pay a great deal of money to the United Methodist body of MS?
>>Doesn’t this local church have to pay a great deal of money to the United Methodist body of MS?
Only if they want to keep the property. All church property belongs to the Conference in the UMC. You can vote to leave, but legally, all you can take with you is the people.
Even the pastor belongs to the Conference and is not a church member.
Several years ago a small country Methodist Church decided to do the same thing. They had pooled their resources to upgrade the church since it was a landmark in the area. . .over 100 years old. Using their own money, they did this. However, when they did informed the council or whoever that they were withdrawing because of where their money was going nationally (as in anti-God social issues), they couldn’t financially buy it back. . .a church that they themselves built and basically rebuilt. A person from the Methodist headquarters laughed and told them they would rather see it turn into a Racoon Hunters’ hangout than let them have it. They folded.