Page 7 - Withdrawal of Churches 2022-0514

GUIDELINES FOR CONGREGATIONAL WITHDRAWAL
FROM THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA DISTRICT

1. No absentee ballots are permitted.

2. Votes will be counted by the Reconciliation Committee along with the local
Moderator/Board Chair and two other individuals appointed by the local
congregation.

3. A vote to withdraw will be successful if two-thirds of the total number of votes
cast are in the affirmative.

4. A vote which does not attain the necessary two-thirds majority will result in the
congregation remaining with the COB. The Reconciliation Committee will offer to
continue working with the leadership/congregation to achieve reconciliation and a
healthy working relationship.

5. Any individual members of the withdrawing congregation who wish to remain in
fellowship with the Southern Pennsylvania Church of the Brethren will be
encouraged to do so and will be offered support from the District. Details of such
support will be determined by the District Board on a case by case basis.

D. Disposition of Property
According to both Denominational and District Polity, all congregational property is held
in trust with the District and, accordingly, will be the property of the District immediately
after the vote, if the Congregational vote is to disassociate from the District and the
Church of the Brethren. In the event the District Board votes at its next regularly
scheduled meeting to relinquish ownership of the disassociating Congregation’s former
property, the Congregation must pay two (2) times the current District Financial
Ministries Allocation to the District for use by the District at its discretion.
In addition, the disassociating Congregation shall pay all legal fees, the
Congregation’s and the District’s, incurred during the withdrawal process.

E. Ministerial Credentials
Upon a successful vote to withdraw, all credentials for all ministers are immediately
terminated with the Church of the Brethren and the Southern Pennsylvania District. No
person may continue to perform weddings under the authority of the Church of the
Brethren or the Southern Pennsylvania District. Accountability and liability for other
ministerial functions such as marriage, personal, or family counseling, ministerial
ethics, etc. shall no longer be under the authority of the Church of the Brethren or the
Southern Pennsylvania District but shall be the sole responsibility of the individual
and/or of whatever subsequent denomination with which they may associate.

However, upon a successful vote to withdraw, if a credentialed individual, Licensed,
Ordained or Retired, as a member of that congregation votes “No,” a vote to not leave
the denomination, the District, upon request by the individual, will offer the following

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