Over the past year, the Discernment Team at Asbury United Methodist Church has worked to provide information, resources, and opportunities for the congregation to learn about the issues surrounding human sexuality and our denomination, the United Methodist Church. It is now time for our congregation to participate in honest and prayerful discernment.
A church-wide survey is now available. This survey asks those at Asbury UMC about their understanding around human sexuality as it relates to the United Methodist Church, their personal beliefs, and their hopes for Asbury United Methodist Church moving forward. The survey is part of a prayerful congregational discernment process and it is a critical step in allowing the Discernment Team to determine and recommend the next right move for our church family.
If you have not done so already, you are encouraged to visit the following links to learn more about where we are as a church and denomination in regards to discernment and disaffiliation regarding human sexuality in the Church.
Discernment Team Resources Page – includes timeline information, frequently asked questions, outside resources, and more.
Unpacking the UMC Today Podcast – Listen to Pastors Mike Holly and Robert Mercer answer some tough questions around current issues facing the United Methodist Church, why some churches are leaving the denomination, and what these challenges mean for Asbury.
Informational Video from Pastor Mike – Pastor Mike spends time discussing the discernment process, how we got to this place, and what we are doing as a church to listen to God as we move through this time together. This session was presented in the Sanctuary on November 16, 2022.
North Alabama Conference ‘Discerning our Future’ – This resource from the North Alabama Conference provides frequently asked questions regarding the United Methodist Church, our local conference, and the Annual Conference’s Disaffiliation process.
Check your email for a unique link to the survey. If you would like to request a paper copy, they are available at the main office during the week or at the Discernment Survey Table outside of the Foust Family Life Center/Gym on Sunday mornings for any person that is unable or prefers not to complete the survey online. If there is another person in your household that did not receive a unique link to the survey, please contact discernment@asburybham.org so that we can update their email address in our system. We ask that you complete the survey by the end of February.