Oak Ridge UMC Discernment Team invites you to attend one of the Church-Wide Discussion meetings concerning possible disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church scheduled in the next few weeks.. The team will be available to answer any questions about our options as to the future of Oak Ridge UMC. Childcare to be provided at all discussion meetings by church volunteers. No sign-up required.
The sanctuary will be opened an hour before each meeting for those who want to pray.
Sunday, Jan 22, Sanctuary, 4 p.m.
Sunday, Jan 29, Sanctuary, 2 p.m.
The team plans to cover the same information at each meeting so you need only attend one. Please volunteer to help with childcare at one of the meetings you are not attending so that parents with small children can attend.
At the end of each meeting a straw poll (unofficial vote to get opinions) will be taken by the Discernment Team. The straw poll will consist of a YES to disaffiliate or NO do not disaffiliate. The voting will be done by anonymous ballots with only 1 vote per member. The meetings are open to all who attend ORUMC, but only members of ORUMC who attend in person will be given a ballot for the straw poll. A member is defined as someone who joined ORUMC by profession of faith or transfer of membership from another church. We will have the membership list from the Church office and once a member is given a ballot, his or her name will be marked off as having voted. We are using this process because it is what rules will be if we decide to go forward with an official vote with the District Superintendent. The ballots will not be tallied until after the third meeting. The Discernment Team will count the ballots and the results will be made known and given to the Church Council to use at their next meeting as they prayerfully consider the next steps for ORUMC.
For additional information regarding Disaffiliation or our Discernment Team, please click here.
