230. While primary responsibility and initiative rests with each individual member faithfully to perform the vows of membership which have been solemnly assumed, if the member should be neglectful of that responsibility, these procedures shall be followed:
1. If a member residing in the community is negligent of the vows, or is regularly absent from the worship of the Church without valid reason, the pastor and the membership secretary shall report that member's name to the administrative council or the council on ministries, which shall do all in its power to reenlist the member in the active fellowship of the Church. It shall visit the member and make clear that, while the member's name is on the roll of a particular local Church, one is a member of The United Methodist Church as a whole, and that, since the member is not attending the Church where enrolled, the member is requested to do one of four things: (a) renew the vows and become a regular worshiper in the Church where the member's name is recorded, (b) request transfer to another United Methodist Church where the member will be a regular worshiper, (c) arrange transfer to a particular Church of another denomination, or (d) request withdrawal. If the member does not comply with any of the available alternatives over a period of three years, the member's name may be removed. (See [014] 4.)
2. If a member whose address is known is residing outside the community and is not participating in the worship or activity of the Church, the directives to encourage a transfer of membership shall be followed each year until that member joins another Church or requests in writing that the name be removed from the membership roll; provided, however, that if after three years the council has not been able to relate that member to the Church at the new place of residence, the name may be removed by the procedure of [014] 4 below.
3. If the address of a member is no longer known to the pastor, the membership secretary and the evangelism work area chairperson or the commission on evangelism shall make every effort to locate the member, including listing the name in the Church bulletin, circularizing it throughout the parish, and reading it from the pulpit. If the member can be located, the directives of either [014] 1 or [014] 2 above shall be followed, but if after three years of such efforts the address is still unknown, the member's name may be removed from the membership roll by the procedure of [014] 4 below.
4. If the directives of [014][014] 1, 2, or 3 above have been followed for the specified number of years without success, the member's name may be removed from the membership roll by vote of the charge conference on recommendation of the pastor and the evangelism work area chairperson or the commission on evangelism, each name being considered individually; provided that the member's name shall have been entered in the minutes of the annual charge conference for three consecutive years preceding removal. On the roll there shall be entered after the name: "Removed by order of the charge conference"; and if the action is on the basis of [014] 3, there shall be added: "Reason: address unknown." The membership of the person shall thereby be terminated, and the record thereof shall be retained;4 provided that upon request the member may be restored to membership by recommendation of the pastor; and provided further, that should a transfer of membership be requested, the pastor may restore the person's membership for this purpose and issue the certificate of transfer.
5. Recognizing that the Church has a continuing moral and spiritual obligation to nurture all persons, even those whose names have been removed from the membership roll, it is recommended that a roll of persons thus removed shall be maintained. It shall then become the responsibility of the administrative council or administrative board to provide for the review of this roll at least once a year. (See also 235.) After the review has been made, it is recommended that the pastor and/or the commission on evangelism contact those whose names appear on this roll, either in person or by other means, in the most effective and practical manner. The names and addresses of those who have moved outside the local church's area should be sent to local Churches in their new communities, that those Churches may visit and minister to them.
4See Judicial Council Decision 207.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 230
1996 United Methodist General Conference