Section II. Compliance with Law
2506. Conformity of Discipline with Local Law.--All provisions of the Discipline relating to property, both real and personal, and relating to the formation and operation of any corporation, and relating to mergers, are conditioned upon their being in conformity with the local laws, and in the event of conflict therewith the local laws shall prevail; provided, however, that this requirement shall not be construed to give the consent of The United Methodist Church to deprivation of its property without due process of law or to the regulation of its affairs by state statute where such regulation violates the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion and separation of Church and state or violates the right of the Church to maintain connectional structure; and provided further, that the services of worship of every local Church of The United Methodist Church shall be open to all persons without regard to race, color, or national origin. "Local laws" shall be construed to mean the laws of the country, state, or other like political unit within the geographical bounds of which the church property is located.1
1See Judicial Council Decisions 11, 315.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 2506
1996 United Methodist General Conference