Dear Central Family:
Back on August 10, 2022, the Central UMC Church Council approved a motion to enter the church into a Discernment Process for possible disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church. A few days later, a challenge by some members of the church was raised regarding the content of the motion and the process for consideration and approval of requests by churches in Arkansas seeking to enter the Discernment Process.
Arkansas Conference UMC Bishop Gary Mueller and Arkansas
Conference Attorney
Michelle Ator developed new standardized wording that is now being required of all Arkansas Conference churches seeking to enter the Discernment Process and for other votes related to disaffiliation from the UMC. In addition, the Conference Office has released new guidance for Arkansas churches on how requests to enter the Discernment Process will be
reviewed.
The Church Council met this past Sunday, September 11, to receive an update on these matters. Subsequently, a motion was made utilizing the new wording provided by the Arkansas Conference UMC and it was adopted by a vote of 18-5.
Today, a letter was sent to NW District Superintendent Dr. Blake Bradford informing him of the action taken by the Church Council and requesting certification of Central UMC to (re)enter the Discernment Process. Additionally, the Church Council approved a Discernment Plan that seeks to outline the process Central would follow if our process is certified.
We anticipate receiving additional information from the District Superintendent and Conference Office within the next ten days. When our process is certified, we will plan to both mail and email a letter to all Central families outlining dates and relevant information to you on how things will work over the months ahead. We will also continue to post relevant information on our website where a landing page has been created for all things related to the Discernment Process. Upon certification we expect to add a number of pieces of information that we believe will help better educate you on how things will unfold.
In
closing, please know that each of you continues to be in my prayers as we seek God’s will for Central and our place within the Kingdom of God. Every Wednesday at Noon I continue to pray and fast for our church, and I have heard from many of you who are joining me in that endeavor. How powerful it is to know that wherever you are, scattered around our city and region, your voice is being joined by others lifting up our church to the Lord! I fully recognize that there are a variety of viewpoints
about this journey that we are on, including some who believe it is long overdue, some who would prefer we not be undertaking it at all, and others who are simply confused by the entire matter. My prayer is that, even in the midst of all that is going on during this season in the life of our church, the Spirit of the Living God will continue to shine his countenance upon us and give us peace as we work to be more like Jesus and make a Kingdom difference in his name.
Together on the Journey,
Rev. Carness Vaughan
Senior Pastor
