re: Disaffiliation of Methodist Churches

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It’s part of progressive Marxists’ long game to unmoor Americans from any meaningful religious adherence,

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It sounds like a conspiracy, but it's actually true. The Marxists have always made it clear they are atheists and desire an atheist state. While Soviet Russia never "banned" religion in law, it didn't matter because they persecuted them ruthlessly. Even leftist Wikipedia is honest about that. I quote:

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The Communist Party destroyed churches, synagogues, and mosques, ridiculed, harassed, incarcerated and executed religious leaders, flooded the schools and media with anti-religious teachings, and it introduced a belief system called "scientific atheism", with its own rituals, promises and proselytizers.[6][7] According to some sources, the total number of Christian victims under the Soviet regime has been estimated to range around 12 to 20 million.[8][9] At least 106,300 Russian clergymen were executed between 1937 and 1941.

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In America simply moving in and murdering Christians won't work (yet), so they have to use different tactics. Their tactic is to simply infiltrate the churches and put trannies and other weirdos in leadership positions.

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Is this for the bldg/land or some kind garbage "seperation fee" that is mostly just profit for UMC?

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It is two years of apportionments (which we have paid 100% forever) plus the unfunded liabilities for staff pensions. We would have paid both had we stayed but over time. The pension part is scary if I was a Methodist preacher. I think they have a good understanding of it but I don't true those in charge one bit.

We left with something like 98% voting yes to leave. We were also blessed to go ahead and pay in full the money to leave.

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The Marxists have always made it clear they are atheists and desire an atheist state.

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Expanding their Christian population will do wonders for this goal

The sixty two percent need to leave and plant a new church. Let the rest stay and rot.

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my family and I are visiting various churches. It’s hard to find a church if you’re not into the newish “community church” with all the praise bands.

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try visiting the original Christian church Baw.... apparently our Parish just had one of the biggest group of electives go through RCIA in the last 2 decades

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Does anyone else think the disruptions of church congregations are a product of democrat/liberal long term game to destroy the American fabric of life, much like they're doing with school boards and higher education?

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I feel 100% like that’s the end game and I think it is obvious it’s being done by overseas Marxists.

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Does anyone else think the disruptions of church congregations are a product of democrat/liberal long term game to destroy the American fabric of life

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Yes. Communism isn't compatible with religion.

Materialism and existentialism were created as alternatives. Thats why the world is suffering from anxiety and depression. There is no soul.

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In the 60's when the UMC became "United" in order to join you has to sell your church property for 1$ to the local conference. Any improvements or new churches all belonged to the conference even though the locals paid all upkeep and insurance etc. So you had to not only pay towards your past pastors retirement, two years of appointments (church tax) and pay towards getting your property back. Some churches paid in the seven figure range to get out.

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I was a teenager and somewhat "unchurched" when the Church united and divided (United Methodist Church and the Independent Methodist Churches in 1968). You might be correct about the $1 assessment but my understanding of the "Trust Clause" goes all the way back to John Wesley, himself.

ETA: Found this-

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What is the history of the trust clause in Methodism?

Trust clauses in Methodism go back to John Wesley himself in mid-18th century England. By 1750, John Wesley had accumulated three properties as meeting places and ministry sites for the Methodist societies. He wanted to make sure that local societies could not take control of these properties from the connection he was creating.

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Book of Discipline

I grew up in the UMC in the 50s and 60s. I remember back then we were as conservative as the Baptists are now. Our local church divided over the issue of UMC church literature, where it included pics of blacks. About a third of our church left and started a new church in the same general area. It was called the Southern Methodist Church. It was very painful to experience that splitting.

I’m now a member of a southern Baptist church but not very crazy about the praise band stuff. I miss the old hymns, hymnals, etc.