Home | Financial & Administrative Services | Sale of Closed Church Property

FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Sale of Closed Church Property

Disposition of Property of a Closed Local Church
Paragraph 2549.8 of The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2020/2024 states:

“If a local church in an urban center with more than 50,000 population is closed, any proceeds of the sale of the property must be used for new and/or existing ministries within urban transitional communities, as described in paragraph 212.

“If a local church in a non-urban center is closed, any proceeds of the sale of its property may be used for new churches, new faith communities, new missional initiatives, relocating churches, churches building multi-campus facilities for the purpose of evangelistic church extension, or an organization that is a non-profit and has values consistent with The United Methodist Church’s values and is consistent with our Wesleyan heritage, theology and United Methodist polity. In addition, the proceeds may be used to revitalize or enhance church ministry or be given to an organization that is a vetted non-profit and has values consistent with The United Methodist Church’s values and is consistent with our Wesleyan heritage, theology and United Methodist polity. In addition, the proceeds may be used to embrace or continue the work and vision of ministry with the poor in the community.”

CCF&A Policy for Use of Proceeds from Sale of Closed Church Property
In conjunction with Paragraph 2549.8 of The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2020/2024, the remaining undesignated financial assets (bank accounts, investments, etc.) from a closed church will be placed in a EOC Board of Trustees closed church building reserve fund for the purpose of paying the cost of carrying church property until it is disposed of or sold.

There is a $100,000 limit per closed church added to the fund. If the church has more than $100,000 in financial resources, the remaining amount is to be divided appropriately and placed in one of these funds: Trustees Closed Church Reserve, EOC Fresh Starts & New Beginnings, EOC Discipleship, or Urban Setting Closed Church Reserve.

The Trustee Closed Church Reserve fund can have a maximum balance of $500,000. If there is a financial need for the carrying of church buildings beyond $500,000 the Trustees can request CCF&A and East Ohio Cabinet to release funds from the Sale of Closed Church Property fund to cover the need. This money does not need to be paid back to the Sale of Closed Church Property fund.

After a non-urban-ministry-setting property is sold, all funds and proceeds are deposited into the Sale of Closed Church Property fund. Fifty percent is placed in the Methodist Foundation of Ohio account for Conference grants for new starts and is administered by the EOC Fresh Starts and New Beginnings Committee. Twenty-five percent is placed in the Methodist Foundation of Ohio account for fresh expression style new faith communities and is administered by the EOC Fresh Starts and New Beginnings Committee. Twenty-five percent is placed in the Methodist Foundation of Ohio account for discipleship and revitalization and is administered by the Board of Discipleship and Revitalization.

When an urban-ministry-setting property is sold the funds are administered in partnership with the EOC Fresh Starts and New Beginnings Committee and the Board of Discipleship and Revitalization in communication with the East Ohio Cabinet.

All funds from the sale of a closed church property must be dispersed within six weeks of the sale closing date and the amount communicated to all involved parties (CCF&A, EOC Trustees, EOC Cabinet, East Ohio Fresh Starts and New Beginnings Committee, Board of Discipleship and Revitalization).

Updated June 1, 2026
Implemented July 1, 2026

Writing task group: one district superintendent, the assistant to the bishop, the executive director of Discipleship Ministries, the executive director of Fresh Starts & New Beginnings, the chairperson of CCF&A, the president of the Board of Trustees and the executive director of Financial & Administrative Services.