Petition Text: 22571-LC-230-D

Understanding Petition Numbers

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Amend ¶ 230:

...should be neglectful of that responsibility, or wishes an inactive relationship with the local church, these procedures shall be followed:

1. ...without valid reason, or wishes to choose an inactive relationship with the local church, the pastor...or (d) accept a transfer of membership to the Inactive Membership Roll, or (e) 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 choose or accept one of these options, that member's name may be transferred to the Inactive Membership Roll. (See § 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 § 4 below either the membership secretary or the pastor shall contact that member and request whether that member wishes to transfer membership to another, closer United Methodist church, or a church of another denomination, or whether that member wishes to retain membership in that local church. In the last case, the procedure in § 4 below shall be followed.

3. [Last sentence] ...but if after three years of such efforts the address is still unknown, the member's name may be removed from transferred to the Inactive mMembership rRoll by the procedure of § 4 below.

4. If the directives of §§ 1, 2, or 3 above have been followed for the specified number of years without success, the member's name may be removed transferred from the Active Mmembership Rroll by vote of...each name being considered individually,; provided that the and each member's name shall be have been entered in the minutes of the annual that year's Charge Conference for three consecutive years preceding removal. On the roll there shall be entered after the name: "Removed Transferred to Inactive Membership Roll by order of the Charge Conference"; and if the action...The membership of the person shall thereby be terminated transferred, and the record thereof shall be retained;4 provided that upon re-involvement request the member may be restored to active membership by recommendation of the pastor; and provided further, that should a transfer of membership be requested before re-involvement, the pastor may restore transfer the person's membership from the Inactive Membership Roll to the receiving church for this purpose and issue the a certificate of transfer to that effect.

5.Recognizing that the Church has a continuing moral and spiritual obligation to nurture all persons, even including those whose names have been removed from transferred to the Inactive Mmembership Rroll, it is recommended that a roll of persons thus removed shall be maintained. It shall then...

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Petition Text: 22571-LC-230-D
1996 United Methodist General Conference