PRESS RELEASE: August 12, 2022
Vero Beach FL: The Wesleyan Covenant Association-Florida regional chapter (“WCA-Florida”) This week the Western North Carolina WCA chapter sent a legal demand to the United Methodist leadership in an effort to provide an exit for their churches wanting to leave the United Methodist denomination. They facilitated the sending of pre-suit negotiation requests on behalf of 40+ Western North Carolina churches. Bishop Ken Carter is the resident bishop of Florida as well as the bishop of the Western North Carolina Conference.
Jeremy Rebman, President of the WCA Florida stated: "it is another sad day for the United Methodist denomination. Members in the churches in both conferences, under the helm of Bishop Carter, had hoped and prayed that Bishop Carter would see his way, in the spirit of the “Protocol” (Protocol of reconciliation and grace through separation) of which he is an original signer, to negotiate a fair and equitable exit for traditional churches in Florida and in Western North Carolina in order to leave the denomination.
Back in May of 2022, the 106 Florida churches began the same legal journey now initiated by Western North Carolina. Soon thereafter, the Florida WCA chapter launched the website LetUsGo.world to join like-minded traditional churches together as they struggle with their leadership in their United Methodist conferences to negotiate a fair and reasonable exit for traditional churches. The website has been collecting names on a proclamation stating the desire to negotiate an exit for churches and let them go!
The Western North Carolina Wesleyan Covenant Association chapter (“WNC WCA”) President Pastor Kari Howard said: “The WNC WCA chapter is just beginning the legal disaffiliation process and churches of all sizes are joining in, side by side to contend. We are very excited to take advantage of the LetUsGo.world petition with all that it offers to promote our joint cause, organized by states for easy access, where we can learn from and encourage one another. We are grateful for the leadership of the FL WCA for their efforts to keep us connected even in the midst of conflict. It is nice to join like-minded churches as we earnestly “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” We thank God for FL organizing our brothers and sisters globally to contend for God’s Word!”
"We hope to launch state tabs on our LetUsGo.world site in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, we expect to see other conferences across the county initiating similar legal action against their leadership. The state tabs on LetUsGo.world will serve to house their stories of their conflicts as they “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” as stated by my fellow President Pastor Kari Howard so beautifully” Rebman said.
Rebman concluded with this call to action and prayer: “Dear Lord, you are loving, forgiving and good. We know that your love is abounding to all who call to you. Let us all call to you in unity."