We want to set the record straight as to the Westbrook United Methodist Church and the decisions regarding their selling of the building and the closing of the church.

First, let it be known that all business was done in accordance with the Book of Discipline, which governs the United Methodist Church. In the selling of the building, the minutes show that the Charge Conference of May 29, 2003, was called and members were notified by the monthly newsletter and by the church bulletin two weeks prior to the meeting and announced from the pulpit. This is in accordance with the Discipline. The Charge Conference convened and at that meeting, in accordance with the Discipline, a motion was made and carried to designate the meeting as a Church Conference, thus allowing all members to vote. That motion was carried and all members present were able to vote. The members present voted to sell the building, 22-0, and there were 3 abstentions.

As to the closing or discontinuance of the church a special Charge Conference was called by the pastor with the written consent of the district superintendent as called for in the Discipline. Again, notice was given by the church bulletin and announcements from the pulpit and by e-mail to the members of the Church Council. The membership “of the Charge Conference shall be all members of the Church Council, together with retired ordained ministers and retired diaconal ministers who elect to hold their membership in said charge conference”.

That meeting was held on March 28, and it proceeded as a Charge Conference in accordance with the Discipline. No motion was made to change the meeting to a Church Conference. The members of the Church Council heard the remarks of a non-member of the Church Council giving him voice, but no vote, as per the Discipline. After many months of exploration of alternatives and prayerful consideration, the motion was made to discontinue the Westbrook United Methodist Church. It passed with a vote of 8-0.

It was ascertained by the Church Council that this congregation was no longer able to serve the “purpose for which it was organized and incorporated.” Let me quote from our Book of Worship, which so clearly states our purpose as a church: “The church is of God, for the conduct of worship and the due administration of the God’s Word and Sacraments, the maintenance of Christian fellowship and discipline, the edification of believers, and the conversion of the world.”

There is no mention of the church being a bank account.

The allocation of the assets of the church are governed by the Discipline. All designated trust funds will be administered by the Conference Trustees in accordance with the original Trust designations. All building monies will be administered by the New England Annual Conference Trustees in accordance with the Discipline. For the church to discontinue it must have the “consent of the presiding Bishop, and of a majority of the District Superintendents and the District Board of Church Location and Building and the approval of the Annual Conference.”

It is with great sadness that the Westbrook Church Council made this difficult decision to discontinue as a church. The participating membership of eight persons could no longer support the goals of ministry and the work of the church alone. Had others come and participated as they had been invited to do, perhaps the ending could have been different.

However, we will leave a legacy in many ways by contributing to many local ministries. The list is made up of organizations the Westbrook United Methodist Church has contributed to for many years plus several new organizations, all voted upon and approved by the Church Council unanimously. As one member commented, “We are so proud to be able to do this”.

Pastor Marilyn Noble

and Westbrook United Methodist Board of Trustees

Copy the Story Link