First Church OKC Victorious Against Oklahoma Annual Conference in Court

First Methodist Church of Oklahoma City has filed suit against the Oklahoma Annual Conference, moving to protect their assets from any hostile takeover situation from the conference. They saw their day in court, and a state judge has ruled in favor of the local church, mandating that the conference comply with very strict and unprecedented stipulations. This segment details what was said in these court proceedings, what the particulars of the judge’s ruling are, and what might happen from here. Enjoy!
Carla Hinton Article - www.oklahoman....
North Georgia Legal Intervention - www.umnews.org...
Hardy Patton of First Methodist OKC Interview - • First Church OKC Disaf...
OKC First Church’s Legal Fund - www.firstchurc...
Article about Church of the Servant Legal Filing - www.oklahoman....

[@iamafarmerntx]

My church was in the Rio Texas conference and when it’s actions toward disaffiliating churches was compared to other conferences in Texas, I felt we were bullied throughout the process. But now hearing what churches in other parts of the nation are going through, we had it easy.

[@eileenthrift8259]

Good judge and from her a reasoned and well thought out ruling. I pray that her decision is not overturned on appeal. Also, that a precedent is set to allow other churches to disaffiliate fairly under paragraph 2553. Thank you Lord for some hopeful good news and thank you "PlainSpoken" for this update. 🙏 ❤

[@lorraineculp1504]

"The will of the body" was repeatedly used as a threat by the conference in a previous video. What a blessing to see a judge willing to provide a level playing field! Let's all continue to pray for God's will for First Church of OKC. The church presented their many methods of outreach in their community. I pray this work will not suffer for greed of evil influences.

[@RevDanXP]

Great update!

[@paulsmith9868]

As an attorney, it sounds like he was in agreement with his client's desire to attempt to delay things. It's a wonder he wasn't held in contempt.

[@Benjamin_Tech]

I know Judge Timmons. She always does an excellent job.

[@abbyjanka2849]

As a member of First Church, thank you for standing with us and fighting for us. It means more than words can say!

[@Huldah4cs]

You have been very generous with your comments toward the UMC. I’ve watched their ecclesiastical shenanigans all across the nation and have come to the conclusion that they have definitely fallen to the “lure of the world’s riches.” My conference has become so punitive that they are now demanding copies of all reports that have already been sent to them over the last 20+ years. When our pastor pointed out that they have all of those reports they replied: Yes, but they are in another building and we don’t have the resources to retrieve them. What? Those of us who have played by the rules are to the point of wanting to take the gloves off. Our church voted 97% to leave in the second wave of disaffiliation in our conference. Like the faithful and hopeful congregation that we are, when the first window opened we thought we could stick it out. When the bishop claimed that any churches that wanted to remain evangelical and leave the fold were like a virus and full of racist bigots, welllll….we knew it was time to go. It’s been ugliness from their side ever since. I wonder what the UMC is going to do when all the goats realize they are sitting in a dung heap surrounded by ashes? Lord help them.

[@jmelamb06]

Having been a part of a mission organization that was initially supported by the West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church up until 2009, we were required to go to court to separate ourselves from them. I can understand how the Conference leadership would be materialistic, because they tried to claim many of our real assets as their own. They claimed we wouldn't be able to survive without their support, but the organization is still there today. They used much the same tactics as you reported about the Oklahoma Annual Conference.

[@cincyborn]

That's brother against brother, this is stealing a place of worship built for his bride.The very thing the constitutional founders demanded for themselves. Oklahoma Rocks ❤

[@wfmontgomery]

All I can say is Wow! God moved upon this judge to tie the hands of the oppressors in this matter! God is so so Good to His Children!

[@cocoabeane7735]

Consider how the split in the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) was handled - a lot like this. Your reasonable desire to be circumspect does not change the obvious corruption.

[@starraustin9363]

The devil brings chaos and confusion

[@starraustin9363]

The lord can bring as well

[@EdwardRodarmel]

I resonate with the sadness of having to appeal to secular courts in order to obtain the justice due these exiting churches. Very unchristian-like. Bad forced and unnecessary witness to the world.

[@larrydewein]

When there is NO JUSTICE in the Churches, it has to the secular courts!

[@joer5627]

Nothing anyone wants. If Bishops would for once abide by the Book of Discipline lawsuits would not be needed. Dirty tricks from those in charge are discouraging for those of us impacted by their less than Christian actions.

[@pwcorgi2000]

NGUMC has a new Bishop. Bishop Dease was appointed 11/4/22. I don't know much about her, but she seems to be better than Bishop Johnson.

[@joer5627]

Time will tell. It took a lawsuit for the rules to finally being enforced.

[@elizabethguenther7319]

Our vote to disaffiliate last night under 2554 lost by only 7 votes. 65.9%. Are there any viable options for the 2/3 attending to pursue,,,?

[@plainspokenpod]

Not that I'm aware of. Y'all have to decide how much you're willing to compromise on your faith. The UMC will continue to demand great compromise from anyone who thinks that the scriptures are eternally true. I would see if it might be possible to negotiate a splitting of assets within the body of the local church, without involving the conference. If the minority who won the vote would be willing to part with some of their resources to help start a new congregation for the conservatives who want to leave, that would be ideal. There isn't any way to compel them to do any such thing, though. I'm sorry. I know it is a hard situation...

[@eileenthrift8259]

Losing the disaffiliation vote by a small number was a possibility at my church. I was told there were members who showed up for the vote who did not attend services. Regardless of the results of the final tally, I had decided I would resign my membership in the UMC. Fortunately for us, we had the super majority. I will pray for you and your church members as you discern the way forward. ❤

[@ChristopherNDokeasiseeit]

Did Charles and John Wesley not have a desire to move away from the church affiliation they were associated with to create the Methodist church because of a desire to have a methodical way of worship? Why is it now that with inclusion of new churches from other continents changing and challenging this? Why is the annual conference allowing this to happen? If a person from one country visits another country that person is expected to follow the laws and customs of that country. The annual conference is changing it's customs and rules to accommodate other ideas.

[@plainspokenpod]

I think you may be confused about the role that nonAmerican UM churches are playing. UM churches outside of the US generally want to maintain the historic doctrines and practices in place. It is American UM local church leaders that have largely betrayed their heritage. International churches are the only reason the UMC has maintained its integrity on paper this long. I thank God for international churches bearing with the licentious and contentious American churches. Moreover, the Wesleys did not end their affiliation within the Anglican Church. They formed a revival movement within it.

[@franklinshouse8719]

I was raised a United Methodist. My father and uncle were both United Methodist ministers, both dead now. They both dearly loved the UMC and were grateful to be able to serve it as ministers. I am sure that they both would be upset that the church was splitting and they would have worked very hard to keep it together. In their early careers, ecumenism was very prevalent and they both were involved in the process of UNITING the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren. Now we have a group of people that want to be destructive and fracture the church. And over what? The issue of homosexuality. One relatively minor issue in the Book of Discipline has resulted in the schism in the church. I don't know why those that want to leave can't muster enough Christian compassion to learn how to deal with this. Give it a try. It's not too hard to do. But I fear these people are too filled with hate, self righteousness and judgmentalism to be able to find compassion in their souls.

[@plainspokenpod]

While it might be a small issue in the BOD, it is a big issue to God. The lack of discernment here is why folks like me have to get away from folks like you. In the name of compassion, you will direct people in the way that leads to death. I can’t be a part of it.

[@ericrathburn5475]

I won’t be as gentle as the podcaster; you’re theologically clueless.

[@user-xp7ju2sd6o]

Educate thyself. The UMC hierarchy for a long time has become bloated, duplicitous, blasphemous, morally compromised, and secularized.

[@caman171]

are u frickin kidding me??? the UMC has clergy that denies the virgin birth, the literal resurrection, the inerrant Word, has drags shows for children IN SERVICE, and denies Christ as the only way of salvation! also the "issue" of homosexuality?? really? have u even read the Bible? are u even a Christian? sounds like you LOVE being a Methodist, but hate being a disciple. you may be a child of the church, but you are not a child of the King. The REAL Methodist Church is the one that declares "HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD". YOU are the ones who have departed from the Methodist Church. perhaps you have become part of the MethoDUST church. because thats all youll be in 30 years, non existent closed museums filled with dust