what happens to personal property in a discontinued umc church
What Should A Church That Is Dying Do?
October thirteen, 2012 by Marking Woodward
Like 3500-4500 churches each year in America, this church was thinking well-nigh closing its doors. Simply over eight years ago, there had been enough energy and hope amid somewhere virtually 200 church members to add a new 300-seat auditorium and several classrooms to their small, aging facility.
But past the end of 2011, in spite of several soul-searching attempts at revival and renewal, church membership was about 50 members with little hope left of turning things around.
This church had a very limited number of choices; without knowing what actually took identify, I'm confident that some members probably wanted to hold on and go on trying to abound. "If nosotros just work harder, . . . ." Other members may take been for searching out a partner and merging with a larger established congregation. Other small churches in this area have washed that in the final few years.(Run across "Southlake and The Hills ). I hope none were tempted to maintain their identity until the last person walked out the door and locked up the edifice, simply it wouldn't surprise me.
Ultimately, the church and its leaders decided that even this process could be damaging to those members nevertheless left, then the all-time matter to practice for this congregation was to encourage all current members to seek other church families and to become involved with them. Lord's day, May 27 was the concluding communion service in this building which had been dwelling to this church family for iii decades.
But what about the building? What happens to all the things, including the edifice, when a church building disbands?
Past constabulary, non-profit organizations—which includes churches—upon dissolution cannot but sell everything and distribute the proceeds to the members. It doesn't have long to figure out why! Most all of the money used to purchase all of the avails would have been charitable donations for which all of the donors received tax benefits. The church property had been tax exempt. And much of the money given charitably to the organisation would have been given by people who were no longer associated with the church. The principle is the no i is immune to "turn a profit" from the auction of a not-profit!
So what happens with all the avails when a church building disbands? A church edifice, for example, can exist sold, but all the proceeds must be distributed to other non-profit organizations. I have known church buildings which were sold and all of the proceeds went to build Christian camps; others gave their funds to other congregations to support mission piece of work; still others have given their funds away to facilitate new church plants.
This church decided to sell the building and distribute all of the funds to a variety of ministries with which the church had been involved.
Let's Start Talking was a ministry in search of a home; nosotros were going to be evicted on September thirty of this year to brand room for a new airdrome freeway. On July 16, the day after the "For Sale" sign appeared in front of the church building edifice, we contacted the church building leaders, who by that time were the only "members" of the congregation left and the ones who were personally maintaining and funding the edifice.
Because they knew and had really participated as a church building with Let's Start Talking, they were eager to talk. From the very outset, they made it articulate that they were willing to sell united states the edifice well below its appraised value in gild to make it possible for LST to purchase the edifice.
After just a few conversations, the church building leaders fabricated LST a firm offer that could be accepted, a purchase price that was only over 50% of what the church was asking others to pay.
This forenoon, October 12, nosotros sat effectually the table with the broker and the lawyer, and the deed to the facility passed from these true-blue church leaders to the Allow'due south Start Talking Ministry. The papers were signed quickly, merely subsequently we all just stood around and talked about how God had once once more provided in a way that exceeded our imaginations.
Sherrylee asked some of the church leaders if at that place were any pangs of remorse. Of form in that location is some sense of loss, merely these men all reassured us of the joy it brought them to know that what had been of such smashing benefit to them was at present going to go along to be used for the piece of work of the kingdom and through a ministry in which they believed God was working.
LST is the beneficiary of this groovy blessing, and we know that all adept gifts come up from the Father, but we want to commend these church leaders for faithful stewardship of all with which they had been entrusted—to the very end!
They are a great example to the leaders of all of those 3500-4500 churches that are endmost each twelvemonth. The end of your story is not the end of God's story for you!
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Source: https://markwoodward.org/2012/10/13/what-should-a-church-that-is-dying-do/
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