Dear Susanna,
I am actually excited about the new name for the church. When do we find out what it will be?
Nan Names
Dear Names,
We actually had 35 different name submitted. Lots of great suggestions! There were a few names that had to be deleted because they are trademarked names. The LC narrowed the list of names down to the final four. A list of those names will be sent out to the congregation along with a link to vote. You will simply follow the link. It will ask you your name and then you vote for the one you like best. If you don't like voting on-line, then see Gayle about getting a ballot or call her. This is all pretty easy peasy. Voting will take place between November 1 - November 15. The new name will be announced on Sunday, November 20h at Fellowship Sunday.
Love & Prayers,
SusannaDear Susanna,
I heard that the church had to reorganize as part of the disaffiliation process. What exactly does that mean?
Curious Carl
Dear Curious
There is a lot to this one, so I consulted with Ron Fauquher who is overseeing this process for us. Ron said, "As part of the United Methodist Church we have operated since 1968 as an "unincorporated association" and benefitted from the fact that the United Methodist denomination held an Internal Revenue Service determination as a 501(c)3 charitable organization. We fell under that umbrella. Since we did not own property (the Indiana Annual Conference owned our property) there was not anything we could not do as an "unincorporated organization" so there was no need to incorporate the church or seek a different kind of legal structure.
Now that we are leaving the United Methodist denomination we needed to "reorganize" our legal structure. Accordingly, we have incorporated the church with new Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws as our own 501(c)3 charitable corporation. This gives us an easier path to take ownership of our property and manage our own legal affairs such as banking, insurance, borrowing funds or entering into contracts. From a day-to-day perspective nothing really changes. But from a legal perspective we become our own entity instead of being part of the larger United Methodist Church." Thanks, Ron!
Love & Prayers,
Susanna
"Dear Susanna" is a feature of the YUMC monthly newsletter. Susanna Wesley never preached a sermon, published a book, or founded a church, yet Susanna Wesley is known as the Mother of Methodism. The example of faith and religious reverence she set for her children John and Charles inspired them to become powerful spiritual leaders, and to launch the Methodist movement.
