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Bishop Tracy S. Malone Outlines the Pathway for Disaffiliation and Separation

In this video Bishop Tracy S. Malone celebrates the movement of the Holy Spirit in East Ohio Conference churches that are sharing the love, grace, and hospitality of Jesus Christ with those who are hurting and those looking for hope and a place to belong.

Amidst anxiety caused by the postponement of the 2020 General Conference until 2024, and the uncertainty being experienced because of plans of disaffiliation and separation, the Bishop reminds us that the mission of Jesus Christ is alive in the East Ohio Conference. Together we are on a journey to live into our mission and live into our shared vision of discipleship, evangelism, and transformation.

“I want us to stay focused on our mission and on our vision because let us remember that what is not postponed and what we never disaffiliate ourselves from is our calling to share the love and the good news of Jesus Christ. We never disaffiliate and separate from our compassion for those who are hurting and grieving. We never separate ourselves from the listening and the responding to the needs of the poor and the marginalized, and our work for peace, hope, and reconciliation,” Malone shares in the video. “It is my earnest hope and my earnest prayer that none of you will choose to separate or disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church. There is a place for you.”

Though that is her hope, Bishop Malone acknowledges that some individuals and churches do not feel at home in The United Methodist Church for reasons of conscience and convictions related to differences on matters regarding human sexuality.

In this video Bishop Malone outlines the disaffiliation and separation pathway the Conference will use, and churches will need to follow. This pathway was determined after consultation between the Bishop, the chancellor, the Board of Trustees president, the CCF&A chair, the executive director of Financial & Administrative Services, the executive director of Connectional Ministries, and the executive assistant to the bishop.