Pete, at our meeting last night, it was explained to us by the district superintend and this is Iowa, and it may be different in different states with the United Methodist church, real-estate, and other assets are "held in trust" by the local church. Held in trust but owned by the head body.
This is the case here in N.C. It is how they get away with closing churches so easily. Church cemeteries cause them a bit of aggravation, both they are learning to get around that. The District does what it wants to do. They find a preacher and congregation members that are down with the cause, and they execute their plan. The deal is already done before the rank and file members know what’s going on. It leaves many live long members crushed. Like I said earlier.....it ain’t pretty to watch.
