Commentaries and Blogs

NEW: Regionalization Does Not Yet Authorize Regions to Create or Abolish Jurisdictions

NEW: Best Practices for Pastors During Appointment Season

Justice for Sale? The Crisis of Accountability

Ist Gerechtigkeit käuflich? Die Krise der Rechenschaft

Constitutional Grace in the Regionalized UMC (Part 1)

Constitutional Grace in the Regionalized UMC (Part 2)

Constitutional Grace in the Regionalized UMC (Part 3)

Constitutional Grace in the Regionalized UMC (Part 4)

Constitutional Grace in the Regionalized UMC (Part5)

“Gender” and “Ability” Inclusiveness of the Church

The New Shape of The United Methodist Church

After the Fire Alarm: How The United Methodist Church Can Fund Its Future

One Church, Many Regions: What Changes For Our Bishops?

After Regionalization, Church Must Prioritize Unity

The Future of the Episcopacy After Regionalization

Pastor-Jurist Seeks to Make Church Law Accessible with New Website

Trust Clause Stands As Connectional Cornerstone

Liberia’s Landmark Church Ruling: A Win for Connectional Integrity

Karl Barth’s Contribution to the Theory of Church Law

Topics (alphabetical)

Adaptations by Central Conferences (English)

Adaptations by Central Conferences (French)

Adaptations by Central Conferences (German)

Administrative Complaint Process

Administrative Review and Appeals Process (with PowerPoint)

Appointment (with PowerPoint)

Appointment Season in the UMC: A Practical Guide for Pastors and SPRCs

Apportionments

Approval Process for Building Projects (with toolkit)

Approval Process for Property Leases (with toolkit)

Approval Process for Property Sales (with toolkit)

Bishops

Board of Ordained Ministry (with toolkit)

Board of Trustees of the Annual Conference (with toolkit)

Board of Trustees of Local Church (with toolkit)

Candidacy Process for Ordained Ministry (with toolkit)

Chancellor

Charge Conference

Church Council (with toolkit)

Church Membership (English, with toolkit)

Church Membership (French, with toolkit)

Church Membership (German, with toolkit)

Church Property

Closing a Local Church (with toolkit)

Conference Council on Finance and Administration (with toolkit)

Conflict Resolution

Connectionalism

Consultation (with PowerPoint)

Cross-Cultural Ministry

Disaffiliation

Discipleship

Discontinuance from Provisional Membership

District Board on Church Location and Building

District Committee on Ordained Ministry (with toolkit)

District Superintendents

District Union

Facility Cost-Sharing Formula

Finance Committee (with toolkit)

Financial Stewardship

“Gender” and “Ability” Inclusiveness of the UMC (English)

“Gender” and “Ability” Inclusiveness of the UMC (French)

“Gender” and “Ability” Inclusiveness of the UMC (German)

Glossary of Acronyms and Terms

Impact of Regionalization on The United Methodist Church Outside the United States of America

Impact of Regionalization on The United Methodist Church Outside the United States of America (German)

Impact of Regionalization on The UMC in the United States and the Forthcoming U.S. Regional Conference

Itinerancy

Judicial Complaint Process (with PowerPoint)

Judicial Council Case Law 101 (with PowerPoint)

Leasing Church Property

Legal Research

Organization and Structure of the UMC After Regionalization (English)

Organization and Structure of the UMC After Regionalization (French)

Organization and Structure of the UMC After Regionalization (German)

Pastors

Permanent Endowment and Planned Giving Ministry Committee (with toolkit and sample guidelines)

Questions of Law

Readmission of Disaffiliated Churches

Regionalization Plan (English)

Regionalization Plan (French)

Regionalization Plan (German)

Reinstatement of Terminated Clergypersons

Rulings of Law by Bishops (with PowerPoint)

Rulings of Law by District Superintendents (with PowerPoint)

Selling Church Property

Staff-Pastor-Parish Relations Committee (with toolkit)

Trust Clause

What to Do When You’re Under Complaint

United Methodist Church Property Handbook

Theology, Law, and Practice

AVAILABLE MAY 1, 2026

A practical, theological, and legally grounded guide to church property in The United Methodist Church

A clear and reliable handbook for church leaders, chancellors, attorneys, and students of polity who need to understand property law and governance in The United Methodist Church.

What this handbook offers:

  • A scholarly, yet practical, integration of Wesleyan theology, law, and ministry.
  • A description of the role and function of governing bodies (local church trustees, charge conference, district board of church location and building, conference board of trustees).
  • A comprehensive analysis of relevant provisions of the Book of Discipline 2020/2024 and the most recent decisions of the Judicial Council.
  • Step-by-step explanation of procedures (purchase, sale, lease, mortgage, merger, closure, ad-interim transfer, exigent-circumstance vesting) with workflow, checklists, and infographics.
  • Best practices for property-related decision-making.
  • Each chapter contains a practical vignette from ministry experience.
  • An overview of federal and California civil court approaches to church property disputes.
  • A summary of relevant Judicial Council case law from 1957 to 2025.
  • An exhaustive index of topics, keywords, disciplinary provisions, and judicial decisions.