Disaffiliation occurs when a local United Methodist church votes to leave The United Methodist Church. The affirmative vote must be a two-thirds majority of the members of the local church. Before voting, members are asked to participate in a discernment process led by their District Superintendent or another annual conference leader.
When local churches disaffiliate, they often join other denominations or become a non-denominational, independent church. As outlined in the United Methodist Book of Discipline, there is a strict process in place for disaffiliating churches when it comes to ownership of church property, apportionment payments and other details.
