Methodist disaffiliation vote fails
Dr. Michele Lundula, district superintendent with the United Methodist Church (at podium) oversaw a vote by 188 members last Thursday at the Humboldt center of Faith United Methodist Church. The congregation will stay affiliated with the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church after a vote to disaffiliate failed nine votes short of gaining the necessary two-thirds majority. FUMC senior pastor The Rev. Cristen Decious is pictured center (by the door). Humboldt Independent photo by Kent Thompson.
By KENT THOMPSON
One hundred and eighty-eight members of the Faith United Methodist Church from the Humboldt, Gilmore City and Livermore centers gathered at the church in Humboldt late Thursday afternoon to decide if the church should continue its affiliation with the United Methodist Church denomination or split.
There was one motion and one action for the congregates. Vote yes, no or abstain to a motion to disaffiliate from the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Abstain meant the voter had no preference or no interest in the motion being asked. For purposes of the vote, abstain was the same as a no vote.
While a clear majority, 117 members of those in attendance, voted yes to disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church, it did not reach the two-thirds or 66.6 percent criteria, failing by nine votes. There were 66 “no” votes and five members abstaining. That means Faith United Methodist Church will remain affiliated with the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
A group of members who supported disaffiliating will be having an informational meeting on Monday, July 17, at 7 p.m. at the Hardy Church at the Humboldt County Historical Museum, 905 1st Ave. N., Dakota City.
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