UMC Church Structure Question

[Flipper]

First of all, I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas!!!

My husband's family all belong to this small UMC church in rural area. A very long story as short as possible. A few years ago, a pastor from the big city came in, and pushed a major multi-million dollar fundraising drive for something that would be impractical for a church with a roll of 400, and attendance of 150 or so (they used a lot of the same techniques my Lutheran church of 3000+ members did when we were bursting at the seams and needed a bigger space). A lot of money was raised, but the plan fell through. Since then, the pastor has left, as has the church treasurer, and a few others to follow the big city pastor back to the big city. It has recently gotten back to the congregants, many of who's families have been going to the church for multiple generations, that the money raised is all gone - with no explanation on how it was spent. My first thought when I heard this was to ask if a congregant can call for an audit of the books to figure out what happened. Most of the people who go to this church are older, or the 5th or 6th generation members, and don't want to rock the boat, or hear of a scandal, but it has left my husband's family very upset, and not sure what to do. My husband thinks that none of them would ever think to want to call an audit because no one has ever dealt with anything like this before.

I guess my question is, can members of a congregation call for an audit of the books? Do they have to go through the district's bishop? I'm wondering if I could put a bug in a relative's ear as to how to start finding out what happened. I love that church, and the people there, and hate that this happened to them.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

God Bless.

[billychum]

I used to attend a church just as you described. Before you go too far, it may save everyone a lot of time and trouble to give the big city pastor a call to see if you can find out some more details about what happened.
Billy <><

[ClementofRome]

Bottm line is that any member can begin the process which will culminate in the Adminsitrative Council calling for a formal audit. At this point the Conference Attourney should also be brought into the discussion. I just spoke with a retired District Superintendent (my father) and he said that this is a BIG deal! The current church treasurer should be able to report to the Administrative Council the whereabouts of any and all church monies and if he/she cannot, to the satisfaction of the Council, the audit should be called for.

This should be done immediately. I pray that all is above board here, cause if it is not....it will be ugly.

[Flipper]

Thanks for the advice, both of you. Clement, thanks for talking to your father. I'm going to do some bug in the ear planting as soon as possible.

Thinking more about this, I know one of the major backers withdrew their support AND money once they found out that part of the plans included tearing down a 150+ year old limestone parsanage that was the original church building (and the pastor kind of hid that part to the general congregation). I wonder if others withdrew their contributions as well. I don't know if that's legal or not, but that would explain it, and wouldn't bother me as much. Still, the congregation deserves answers.

Also, if you could all pray for them, that would be wonderful. There are a lot of hurt feelings on all sides. Thank you again.

[herev]

WOW, as CofR said, do something NOW. I would also add that it wouldn't hurt to call the District Superintendant quickly.

[ClementofRome]

If there were withdrawn pledges or even gifts that were withdrawn, that makes it a different matter. All members of the church should understand the truth of the matter.

Blessings to you all....the sitatuation is definately in my prayers.

Thanks herev for your wisdom....I was thinking that the DS involvement was a given...but maybe I am wrong! :)

[herev]

no problem, cofr, I was thinking after I posted this--make sure that the current pastor is at least informed of your concerns and your intent to go elsewhere.

[ctay]

Do pastors not stay long in Methodist churches? Did the church ask this pastor to come?

[Flipper]

Do pastors not stay long in Methodist churches? Did the church ask this pastor to come?

This church is out in the country, and traditionally, the pastors assigned to it are usually either brand new, or close to retirement, and they don't stay long. Though, this previous pastor was there 7-8 years. From my understanding, the pastor gets assigned to this church. I don't think they go through a hiring process like Lutheran churches do. I don't know if it's a Methodist thing, or something with that church.

[ClementofRome]

The sending of pastors to UMC churches is at the whim of the Bishop. Though the local church may have some say in the matter (better than it used to be), ultimately, the decision to send pastors is decided on by the Bishop's Cabinet and approved by the Bishop.

[ctay]

Yep I go to a Lutheran church. Most of the pastors stay for a long time. If a church loses one to retirement or another call it takes awhile for a Lutheran church to find one. They have to go through a "call process". The Lutheran church my mom goes to, the pastor retired after being a pastor for like 30 something years and it took a couple of years before they got another pastor. Another Lutheran church near me is looking for a pastor, their pastor of 17 years took a call to do mission work back in the spring and they are going through the call process and hadn't found one yet.

Just wondering how it worked.

[MoodyBlue]

I am the chair of the audit committee at our church (Methodist). We are required to audit all of the churches various accounts (including the checking and savings accounts that Sunday School classes maintain) on an annual basis, and report our results back to the administrative board of our church as well as to the district office of the Methodist Church. This is required of all Methodist Churches in the USA.

The members of your church deserve to know what is being done with the money they have given. If the money is given for a particular purpose (in this case, to a building fund), the church leaders have a responsibility to make sure the money is spent for that purpose alone.

This matter needs to be looked into thoroughly, for the sake of all concerned.