Leaving the United Methodist Church
Get the November 2026 updated eBook.
Lead your congregation to a new beginning.
The United Methodist Church’s disaffiliation window has closed, and the denomination now says no church can leave with its property. Is your congregation ready to leave but worried about a fight over the Trust Clause?
Do you have other legal questions about how to set up your new congregation for success?
Free Information Guide: Leaving the United Methodist Church, November 2026 Edition
The path out of the United Methodist Church has changed. Paragraph 2553 has been deleted from the Book of Discipline, the “gracious exit” alternatives have been ruled invalid, and annual conferences are now going to court to enforce the Trust Clause, sometimes before a church has even announced its plans. For congregations that want to leave today, state law is now the only way forward.
Our newly updated guide explains what that means for your church. Inside, you’ll find:
- Where things stand in the denomination today, and why the denomination-approved exit is gone
- A two-step process for leaving
- How the Trust Clause works, and how courts in different states have treated it
- Recent court decisions from across the country, including Alabama, Florida, Maryland, South Carolina, and Texas
- What to consider when choosing your congregation’s next home
The attorneys of Dalton & Tomich focus on helping local churches become independent and free to lead in their communities. We wrote this guide to answer many of the questions we hear most often from churches considering leaving the United Methodist Church.
Experience to help you navigate.
Our practice is a nationally recognized authority on legal issues facing churches and other religious institutions. Daniel P. Dalton has personally helped congregations through denominational separations and litigates these cases in nearly 20 states. We have guided congregations out of the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Episcopal Church, and we understand both the legal issues and the internal concerns that come with such an important decision.
While this guide will not answer all of your questions and should not be interpreted as legal advice, we hope you find it helpful as your local church embarks on a new journey.
Please do not hesitate to email Daniel P. Dalton directly or call (313) 859-6000 to get answers to your specific questions.
Fill out the form below and download your FREE guide.
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