The past year has been a difficult one for the United Methodist Church as several United Methodist churches in the North Texas Conference went through a discernment process around whether to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church.
In May 2022, the FUMC Allen Administrative Council discussed whether to move through that disaffiliation process and decided that it was not in the best interest of our church family.
The question rose again in the Fall of 2022.
In response, Senior Pastor Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch, accompanied by Lay Leader Rod Morehead and Administrative Council Chair Susan Hale, conducted 16 listening sessions with adult and youth small groups. Susan, Rod, and Pastor Mary Beth shared the feedback from the listening sessions at the March 12, 2023, meeting of the Administrative Council.
Taking into consideration that feedback and the will of the vast majority of the congregation not to enter into this extensive and divisive process, the 2023 Administrative Council reaffirmed the May 2022 decision to not pursue the disaffiliation process and to remain focused on the greatest commandment to love our neighbors and to come together on Christ’s message of unity.
As a result, FUMC Allen will continue to fulfill this mission as a United Methodist Church, abiding by the current United Methodist Book of Discipline.
Your FUMC Administrative Council
Dana Allison
Cliff Bohaker
Carrie Brazeal
Marvin Breeze
Joseph Bush III
Kim Dewailly
Rev Josh Esparza
Darla Foster
June Franck
Eric Free
Ken Fulk
Susan Fulk
Ann Gurley
Susan Hale, Chair
Rev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch
Mallory Kizer
Henry Lessner
Adam Lubbers
Glenda May
Daisy Miller
Rev Maxie Moore
Rod Morehead, Lay Leader
Alan Quick
Jeanie Schulmeister
Carole Smithwick
Dani Steininger
Ruth Swingle
Alison Thomas
Ed Whipple
Martine Whitten