Dear Central UMC Family,

As announced last Sunday, Central will host a Charge Conference on Monday, December 8 at 6pm, where members of our Church Council will be voting on whether or not to adopt Trinity United Methodist Church as an additional campus (along with Dickson Street and the Wesley Foundation). We will gather in Wesley room 310 for this meeting. As with all Church Council and Charge Conference meetings, all members of Central UMC are invited to attend.

You may remember that a Charge Conference originally scheduled for August to address this matter was postponed. The members of Trinity requested additional time to discern this decision and to get to know our community more deeply. Over these past several months, we have made meaningful connections with Trinity’s congregation. Many of their members have joined us weekly at our 9:00 a.m. service, participated in discipleship opportunities such as Inclusive Connections, and shared in fellowship alongside us. Through this extended period of relationship and discernment, the Trinity congregation has reached clarity: they believe that adoption by Central UMC is the right path for their community, and they have voted accordingly.

Now it is our turn to discern whether adopting Trinity as a campus of Central is also right for us.

Over the last nine months, our leadership, committees, and staff have been carefully evaluating the viability and sustainability of adopting Trinity as an additional campus. Here is what we have found: the area surrounding Trinity is growing rapidly. While many students live nearby, the neighborhood is also home to young families and long-term residents who call Fayetteville home. Notably, there are very few other churches in this part of the city—and none United Methodist. This presents a meaningful opportunity for us to share our compelling vision, in the spirit of John Wesley: that a relationship with Jesus can really change lives, and that we refuse to turn people away from this life-changing connection, no matter who they are.

Since March, members of our Trustees, Finance Committee and Church Council have conducted surveys, commissioned property appraisals, and received bids for the work needed to revitalize the facility. These steps have helped us build a clear picture of what will be required and what is possible.

Many of you have asked about funding this new campus. Trinity currently owns three pieces of property that appraised collectively at around $3 million. If we move to adopt, these properties transfer ownership to Central. One of these properties—the former parsonage on Hall Street—has appraised at $400,000. Our plan is to sell that home and use the proceeds to fund needed upgrades and repairs at the new campus. In addition, the Arkansas Conference has agreed to provide us with $100,000 to begin this work. If Central UMC votes to adopt Trinity, those funds will be released to us immediately. All of the initial funding sources for this campus will come from outside the Central Dickson campus ministry budget. Based on the work that’s been done, we believe there will be sufficient funds to pay off Trinity’s existing debt of $50,000 and do the necessary updates to make the church building on Garland ready for a worshiping community without drawing on other Central funds. As we have shared with others, if the adoption is finalized, Trinity would close as a separate congregation and reopen for worship in fall 2026 as a part of Central, although “Trinity” would live on as the new name for their Fellowship Hall.

Regarding finances, Central’s year to date giving has outpaced last year, and our staff has diligently kept our expenses within budget. If we stay on this path, we'll meet our ministry funding goal for 2025 while reducing our overall debt. I'm incredibly proud of this congregation's generosity and stewardship. No matter what decision is made, we will not remove focus from the needs and ministries of our main campus on Dickson.

While I'm excited about the possibilities of this opportunity, I also acknowledge that it is a big step for our church. I ask that each of you join us in prayer over this vote, and do not hesitate to ask any other questions you might be holding. I've included my email below, or you can call the church office to connect with me via phone. I'm also available to answer any questions, as are the members of our Church Council (linked here). If you are unable to attend the Charge Conference, I hope you'll continue to keep Central UMC, along with all of our mission and ministries, in your prayers. We believe the Holy Spirit is guiding us in this process, and we want you to be part of whatever comes next.