Property

The US National Conference, during its June 2001 meeting, adopted the following chapter, which replaces two chapters on Property in the 1997-2001 Discipline.

Introduction

According to the United Brethren Constitution, all church property, whether owned by a local congregation or by the conference, is held in trust for the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. The United Brethren Constitution provides for the possibility that a local church may hold title to their property as outlined in the Discipline. The following provision provides the process by which a local church can hold title and ownership of their own property.

The following provisions are not intended as an interpretation of the rights under secular law of either congregations or conferences. Legal ramifications will differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Rather, they are intended as a framework to protect both congregations and conferences in the covenantal relationship they have established with each other.

Conference Ownership

If property is held in the name of the conference and/or the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, the following policies apply:

Congregations must obtain approval from the conference before selling that property.
Congregations that desire to buy property and hold it in the name of the conference and/or the Church of the United Brethren in Christ must obtain approval from the conference before making the purchase or borrowing money to do so.
Congregations that disband or sever connections with the conference must surrender all property within 30 days of such action.

Congregational Ownership

Congregations are permitted to obtain title to their property if so desired. The following policies apply:

Transferring title from the name of the conference and/or the Church of the United Brethren in Christ to that of the congregation requires a vote of two-thirds of adult members of the church. Following a vote for local church property ownership, the board of administration will send a letter to the annual conference notifying them of their action. The annual conference will respond with a letter of acknowledgement that the title belongs to the local conference as long as that local conference remains a member of the United Brethren in Christ Church. If a local conference that has obtained title and owns property disbands or severs connection with the annual conference, they must surrender the title to all properties to the annual conference within 30 days of such actions, even if titled in the name of the congregation.
Congregations do not need conference approval to sell such property.
Congregations do not need conference approval to buy property to be titled in the name of the congregation, nor to borrow money to do so.
Congregations assume total liability for all debts or claims made against property titled in their name.
Any church that has received conference financial support within the past ten years may not obtain title and own property purchased with conference funds unless the conference approves ownership. If the congregation disbands or sever connections with the conference, they must surrender the property within 30 days of such action, even if titled in the name of the congregation.

Property Reverting to the Conference

When property reverts to the conference, the conference may do any of the following:

Donate or sell it back to the congregation, if still in existence, according to a mutual agreement of understanding.
Restart the congregation or start a new congregation in the same community.
Sell the property to outside interests and use the funds for ministries within the Church of the United Brethren in Christ International.