04/05/2022
The WCA-Florida congratulates the Bulgarian-Romanian Annual Conference!
At its annual meeting on April 1st, the Bulgarian-Romanian Annual Conference unanimously voted to withdraw from the UMC and align with the Global Methodist Church effective May 1st. They are the first AC to withdraw from the UMC and join the GM Church.
RESOLUTION OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR BULGARIA AND ROMANIA FOR WITHDRAWAL FROM THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
In light of the current crisis in The United Methodist Church, the Annual Conference for Bulgaria and Romania enacts the following resolution:
At its annual meeting on April 1st, the Bulgarian-Romanian Annual Conference unanimously voted to withdraw from the UMC and align with the Global Methodist Church effective May 1st. They are the first AC to withdraw from the UMC and join the GM Church.s of May 01, 2022, and immediately become an annual conference of the Global Methodist Church, a Wesleyan Christian church that upholds the authority of Scripture and seeks to live in obedience to the Lord’s commands, as we understand them From henceforth, this annual conference commits itself to live under the doctrinal standards and polity of the Global Methodist Church, as stipulated in its Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline and the Book of Doctrines and Discipline as hereafter adopted by its General Conference This resolution is not made based on Article 572 of the Discipline of the United Methodist Church.
2 The Annual Conference for Bulgaria and Romania (registered as the Evangelical Methodist Episcopal Church in Bulgaria and the various legal entities in Romania) shall operate under the bishop or president pro tempore assigned by the Transitional Leadership Council of The Global Methodist Church on the date at which this resolution becomes effective The annual conference will assume responsibility for all salary, social and health benefits and operating expenses of such office. The Annual Conference for Bulgaria and Romania releases any claim on the Episcopal Fund of The United Methodist Church effective upon the date of its withdrawal from The United Methodist Church.
3 The Church Council of the Evangelical Methodist Episcopal Church in Bulgaria and the superintendent of the Romanian part of the Annual Conference are directed and empowered to take all actions necessary to effectuate this resolution for withdrawal from The United Methodist Church and joining with the Global Methodist Church, The first step concerning this will be for the Annual Conference to amend the Articles of Incorporation of the Evangelical Methodist Episcopal Church in Bulgaria according to the Laws for Religious Institutions and the present resolution.
4. The Evangelical Methodist Episcopal Church in Bulgaria and the various legal entities in Romania retain the entirety of their tangible and intangible property.
5. Following the effective date of this decision, a closed session of all pastors will be held, with each clergy member having the opportunity to sign a declaration of intent to surrender their credentials in The United Methodist Church, affirming their commitment to the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline of the Global Methodist Church, and requesting the issuance of credentials from the Global Methodist Church. Clergy members of the Annual Conference who have signed such a declaration shall thereafter be entitled to a vote as clergy in the Annual Conference. Upon receiving the declaration, the Board of Ordained Ministry of the Annual Conference shall issue ordination credentials to persons signing the declaration recognizing their status in the Global Methodist Church. Persons who do not sign the declaration shall have no vote in the Annual Conference, and their failure to sign the declaration shall constitute a resignation from any board, agency, or leadership position in the Annual Conference. The same rule applies to all local pastors who sign the declaration to continue their ministry in the Global Methodist church.
6. Any clergy member of the Annual Conference who desires to remain part of The United Methodist Church shall apply for transfer to an annual conference of The United Methodist Church by its Book of Discipline.
7. Any lay members of the Annual Conference who intend to remain members of The United Methodist Church after the adoption of this resolution shall recuse themselves from any Annual Conference boards, agencies, and leadership positions and shall abstain from all votes on the business of the Annual Conference after the adoption of this resolution.
8. Any congregation of the Evangelical Methodist Episcopal Church in Bulgaria and in the Romanian part of the Annual Conference that desires to remain part of The United Methodist Church may do so by a simple majority vote of all professing members present and voting at a regular or called church conference. Such action must occur within one calendar year of this resolution becoming effective.
9. The Annual Conference for Romania and Bulgaria commits itself to allow the free flow of information to clergy and congregations to make an informed decision for their future without intimidation or the withholding of information.
Submitted to the Secretary of the Annual Conference by the Church Council of the Evangelical Methodist Episcopal Church in Bulgaria and the Superintendent of the Romanian District:
Rev. Dr. Daniel G. Topalski – Chairman
Rev. Ivaylo Ivanov – Secretary
Rev. Krasimir Madzharov
Luben Popov
Mariela Mihaylova – Siderova
Rev. Rares Calugar
(Translation from the Bulgarian original: Rev. Jessica Morris – Ivanova)
It was adopted unanimously by the Bulgaria/Romania Provisional Annual Conference of the UMC on April 1 during the morning session.
