🖵 Discernment 2022-2023

Lebanon’s final disaffiliation vote was held on March 5, 2023. There were sufficient yes votes to approve the disaffiliation. The vote results must now be ratified by the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. That ratification vote is to be held at a Special Called Annual Conference on May 6, 2023. More detailed information on the next steps in the process will be posted and/or emailed as it becomes available.

Lebanon’s final disaffiliation vote was held on March 5, 2023. There were not sufficient yes votes to approve the disaffiliation, thus ending the disaffiliation process for Lebanon. Therefore, Lebanon will remain a United Methodist Church.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Lebanon’s 30-day discernment period concluded on December 12 and the straw vote was held on December 13. There were sufficient yes votes to approve the continuation of the process for disaffiliation. More detailed information on the next steps in the process will be posted and/or emailed as it becomes available.

Lebanon’s 30-day discernment period concluded on December 12 and the straw vote was held on December 13. There were not sufficient yes votes to approve the disaffiliation, thus ending the disaffiliation process for Lebanon. Therefore, Lebanon will remain a United Methodist Church.

The Lebanon Discernment Team has provided a wealth of helpful information within this site regarding the current status and direction of the United Methodist Denomination, and how it affects us at Lebanon. By now most of our congregation is aware of this ongoing discussion, and of our current 30-day time of Discernment as we seek God’s will for Lebanon.

While we have provided many resources for your use, we recommend that all members at a minimum, review the information provided on this page.

How Did We Get Here?

The United Methodist Denomination has left us behind. The denomination, both nationally and in Virginia, has continued to move away from the basic tenets of our faith.

Specific areas of our core Methodist beliefs that are increasingly being ignored or openly disregarded by UMC clergy include the following:

• Scripture is the unfailing Word of God.
• The Book of Discipline is our denominational guide (all clergy take an oath to uphold this Biblically and Wesleyan grounded book of rules for clergy and church procedures).
• The Deity of Christ
• The Sanctity of Christian marriage as being between one man and one woman.

Recent News

The Big Tent Has Collapsed

November 15, 2022   Wesleyan Covenant Association

The United Methodist Denomination now has the most liberal Council of Bishops in its history. Not one single traditionalist bishop was elected. Not one.  Read more…

Future Vision of Lebanon

Maintain the same congregation – and continue growing!

Continue the same programs and same missions that we currently serve!

Remain a Methodist Church – abiding by the Word of God as taught through the holy scriptures and the teachings of John Wesley.

Become an independent owner of our building, property, and cemetery, by removing the burdensome effects of the UMC Trust Clause.

Have more ability to choose Pastors that will support the type of teaching and pastoral care that we want as a local church.

The decision in front of us as a church family is simply this:

Disaffiliate as a congregation from the United Methodist Denomination and join a different Methodist denomination, which would allow us to:

• Remain focused on Scripture and Christ as the foundation for all.
• Stay together as a Lebanon church family in worship and service to the Lord and continue the mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world through the Global Methodist Church.
• Retain local ownership of our church building, property, and cemetery.

OR

Remain a part of the United Methodist Denomination, which would require us to:

• Accept the increasing shift away from Scripture as the foundation of our beliefs and worship.
• Divide our congregation.
• Continue to allow the United Methodist Denomination to maintain control of our building, property, and cemetery in perpetuity.

The Recommendation

We are strongly recommending disaffiliation from the United Methodist Denomination and exploring membership in the Global Methodist Church. Once we have disaffiliated, we will be free to choose our own spiritual path and retain permanent ownership of our property. There are several advantages to joining the Global Methodist Church.

• Most importantly, retain the traditional Methodist foundation that John Wesley established and was in place when each of us joined Lebanon.
• No cost to join.
• No long-term commitment.
• No exit fee (should we decide it is no longer aligned with our values).
• Permanent ownership of our property.
• Move away from the Breakdown In Discipline detailed below.

Comparison and Recommendation