The postponed 2020 General Conference of The United Methodist Church (UMC) completed its work last Friday, May 3, 2024. It was the “2020 General Conference” because the actual 2020 GC was postponed three times because of “COVID”. The last time it was postponed was under very suspicious circumstances. Nevertheless, the GC has met, and it has enacted the most progressive agenda ever. In many respects, the UMC has been completely transformed.
You can read about all of the actions of GC here: https://peopleneedjesus.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/what-happened-at-the-united-methodist-general-conference-v15.pdf
Suffice it to say, the GC not only liberalized the church’s teaching on sex and marriage, it also refused to extend the process of disaffiliation for local UM churches. And neither did it extend the grace to churches outside of the US, as we had hoped. In other words, The Fount (along with the eight other churches in Cal-Pac) is left with hoping for a favorable outcome of the lawsuit in which it is engaged.
What does this mean? It means that barring a favorable outcome of the lawsuit, The Fount will have to decide whether or not it wishes to remain on its campus. And if it does wish to remain, it will have to remain a UMC. But if it does not wish to remain a UMC, it will have to relinquish its property. That is, if the lawsuit fails or if the terms of any settlement are impossible to reach. The only other option, at this point, is to renew The Fount’s request to transfer from the UMC to the Free Methodist Church denomination, a request that was previously denied by the bishop and cabinet of Cal-Pac.
As I prepare to retire from the active ministry, I am certain that Pastor Brian Long will lead you well, going forward. Along with Pastor Paul Park and the rest of The Fount’s staff, you are in good hands! It is expected that a ruling on the initial motion by the annual conference to dismiss the lawsuit will be handed down in mid-June. If that motion is denied, which we hope it will be, then the suit will continue and may last up to three years. In the meantime, The Fount will be able to continue functioning as it is, along with Free Life, VEC and La Cima.
So, continue to pray. Pray for a favorable outcome of the lawsuit. And pray for God’s guidance and strength. We don’t know the future, but we know and trust the God of all futures! Let our faith be our strength.
In Christ,
