A number of U.S. annual conferences are scheduling special sessions in 2023 to deal mainly with church disaffiliations. The sessions do not replace regular annual conference sessions held in the late spring and summer.
The Book of Discipline’s Paragraph 2553 allows churches to leave The United Methodist Church with property if they meet certain financial and procedural requirements, including at least a two-thirds vote by the congregation and approval of the disaffiliation agreement by the congregation’s annual conference. The provision expires at the end of 2023.
Special sessions listed in order of when they are scheduled to occur:.
- Virginia Conference special sessions on Feb. 18, May 6 and Oct. 7.
- North Texas Conference special session on March 4 and Dec. 2.
- Upper New York Conference special sessions on March 25 and Oct. 14.
- Florida Conference special sessions on April 22, Aug. 5 and Dec. 2.
- Holston Conference special session on April 22 and Sept. 7.
- Oklahoma Conference special session on April 22 and on Oct. 13-14.
- Alaska Conference special session on May 6.
- Illinois Great Rivers special sessions on May 6 and Dec. 2.
- Oregon-Idaho Conference special session on May 6 and Nov. 14.
- Rio Texas Conference special session on May 6 and Dec. 2.
- Western North Carolina special session on May 6 and Nov. 4.
- Alabama-West Florida Conference special sessions on May 7 and Nov. 12.
- Pacific Northwest Conference special sessions on May 7 and Nov. 15.
- North Alabama Conference special session on May 11 and Sept. 12.
- Texas Conference special session on May 11 and on Dec. 14.
- Arkansas Conference special session on May 13 and Oct. 15.
- Susquehanna Conference special session on May 17.
- New Mexico Conference special session on May 20 and Dec. 9.
- South Georgia Conference special session on May 21.
- Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference special sessions on May 22 and Nov. 13.
- Iowa Conference special session on May 23 and Nov. 18.
- Louisiana Conference special session on May 27.
- Great Plains online session on May 31 before its in-person annual conference.
- Western Pennsylvania Conference special session on June 14.
- Dakotas Conference special session on Aug. 15.
- North Carolina Conference special session on Oct. 7.
- Northwest Texas Conference special session on Oct. 23.
- West Ohio Conference special session on Oct. 28.
- Central Texas Conference special session on Nov. 4.
- California-Pacific Conference special session on Nov. 11.
- Minnesota Conference special session on Nov. 13.
- Missouri Conference special session on Nov. 18.
- North Georgia special session on Nov. 18.
- Michigan Conference special session on Nov. 30.
- Mississippi Conference special session on Dec. 9.
This list will be updated as more sessions are announced.
To give churches more time to pray, discern and decide, some conferences will allow churches to leave with property next year under the Discipline's Paragraph 2549, which is usually used for church closures. South Georgia Conference has scheduled a special session on Aug. 17, 2024, under this policy.
