2546. Merger of Local United Methodist Churches--Two or more local Churches, in order to more effectively fulfill their ministry (201-204), may merge and become a single Church by pursuing the following procedure:
1. The merger must be proposed to the charge conference of each of the merging Churches by a resolution stating the terms and conditions of the proposed merger.
2. The plan of the merger as proposed to the charge conference of each of the merging Churches shall be approved by each of the charge conferences in order for the merger to be effected except that for a charge conference that includes two or more local Churches the required approval shall be by the church local conference of each local Church in accordance with the requirements of 2527.
3. The merger must be approved by the superintendent or superintendents of the district or districts in which the merging Churches are located.
4. The requirements of any and all laws of the state or states in which the merging Churches are located affecting or relating to the merger of such Churches must be complied with, and in any case where there is a conflict between such laws and the procedure outlined in the Discipline, said laws shall prevail and the procedure outlined in the Discipline shall be modified to the extent necessary to eliminate such conflict.
5. All archives and records of Churches involved in a merger shall become the responsibility of the successor Church.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 2546
1996 United Methodist General Conference