Comment

UM Leaders Seize Church And Bibles Under 1872 Law

From: DGSimp@aol.com <DGSimp@aol.com>
To: ucmpage@ucmpage.org <ucmpage@ucmpage.org>
Date: Monday, September 13, 1999 5:07 PM
Subject: UM Leaders Seize Church And Bibles Under 1872 Law

We need to make sure what we a complaining about. So much of our issues have to do with the church, the Bishops, the clergy, etc not obeying the Book of Discipline. If this taking of the church property was done by the discipline because of a vote by the conference, can we then complain that they went by the rules we are demanding them to uphold? We cannot have it both ways. I am sad that any church has to be closed because of lack of attendance and financial support but there are times it happens. Each Conference has to deal with this each year. But we need to be careful how we paint the conference as some great antagonist if this is not the case. It hurts our credibility more than it helps. God bring the time when no church has to be closed - but with shifting of population, etc, I am afraid we will always have to face those times of decision. The trust clause is there to safeguard the "church" that seeks to be faithful throughout the generations.

Sincerely

Don Simpson

From: Bill Henderson bhcc@interconnect.net
To: ucmpage@ucmpage.org ucmpage@ucmpage.org
Date: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 9:29 PM
Subject: UM Leaders Seize Church And Bibles Under 1872 Law

What a wonderful court document and decision! It reaffirmed the connection of the United Methodist Church, affirmed the Model Deed clearly spelled out in the Book of Discipline, honored the giving of 100 years of Methodists to a Methodist Church and affirmed the rights of churches to control appropriately their own affairs!

If you have problems with this decision you are probably more Baptist than Methodist, in my humble opinion. But then I'm more Methodist than Baptist and glad it shows.

-- + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Rev. Bill Henderson         District Superintendent
3510 Gollihar Street        Corpus Christi District
Corpus Christi, TX 78415    United Methodist Church
Office 361-852-8268         BHCC@interconnect.net
FAX    361-852-3370         http://www.gbgm-umc.org/CorpusChristi

From: Carson Lauffer clauffer@mc.net
To: ucmpage@ucmpage.org ucmpage@ucmpage.org
Date: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 8:53 AM
Subject: UM Leaders Seize Church And Bibles Under 1872 Law

Friends,

It's a shame that they did not sue the denomination for breech of contract like the Canadian congregation did. Perhaps someday a congregation will finally do that and hopefully win. This will set a precedent for others to do likewise. Nevertheless, why do we believe that the building is the church? Why do we fight so hard for property when what we could have is freedom? Just pick up and leave.

Dan Lauffer

From: Jeff Graham graham@vci.net
To: ucmpage@ucmpage.org ucmpage@ucmpage.org
Date: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 11:58 AM
Subject: UM Leaders Seize Church And Bibles Under 1872 Law

What was the purpose of the $65,000 mortgage mentioned in the court documents? It was not, apparently, authorized by the Conference. Was it by the Trustees or an individual?

Seems to me there's some shady business going on here, perhaps on both sides.

From: Carson Lauffer clauffer@mc.net
To: ucmpage@ucmpage.org ucmpage@ucmpage.org
Date: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 8:53 AM
Subject: UM Leaders Seize Church And Bibles Under 1872 Law

Friends,

It's a shame that they did not sue the denomination for breech of contract like the Canadian congregation did. Perhaps someday a congregation will finally do that and hopefully win. This will set a precedent for others to do likewise. Nevertheless, why do we believe that the building is the church? Why do we fight so hard for property when what we could have is freedom? Just pick up and leave.

Dan Lauffer