Welcome to Rectortown UMC

As you are all aware, our church began the process of disaffiliation back at the beginning of 2023 with an initial vote by the admin council to explore our options.  Time progressed and we followed through the steps set forth by the Virginia United Methodist Church to work towards a final vote on disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church under paragraph 2553.  These steps included our joint prayerful discernment time, open meetings and discussions, a straw poll and a great amount of paperwork and other legal work behind the scenes.  Throughout this time, the Trustees and the Chair, Carl, have worked tirelessly crossing the 'i's and dotting the 't's to ensure that our Church had the appropriate framework in place to prepare for the final congregational vote.  Please take time to thank them, and Pam, for the all the hard work and time spent preparing documents and working through legal agreements.  

On July 24th we held a special Called Church Conference which was set and managed by our District Superintendent, Victor Gomez and assisted by Reverend Chad Hrbek.  The purpose of the Called Conference was to have a final vote of professing members on the issue of disaffiliation from the UMC.  Only professing members who are currently on the roles were eligible to vote.  The issue required a 2/3 majority in order to 'pass'.  The DS provided an open and transparent conference and discussed each step of the vote to ensure everyone understood and was prepared to vote.  We had eighteen (18) total members in attendance and the passage required a 'YES' vote by 12 of those members in order to pass.  Once the votes were counted, it ended in a 9-9 tie; 9 voted YES and 9 voted NO.  Because 2/3 majority was needed, the vote did not pass. 

As such, Rectortown United Methodist Church will remain as Rectortown United Methodist Church and continue as we always have as a United Methodist Church.  At this time, nothing will change for us or Middleburg or Jonathan.  

This has been a time of great discernment, of great prayer and of great emotional upheaval for us all.  Some will be happy with the results, some will be unhappy with the results, some will return to their Church now, knowing it will remain as it has always been, and some may leave deciding that some of the decisions of the United Methodist Church are decisions with which they cannot abide.  No matter what it is always of the utmost importance to remember that we are a family and we support and love each other.  We are all children of God and are called to do His work.  And we can all agree that no matter whether the result of this vote was Rectortown United Methodist Church or Rectortown Church, we all share a love for this Church, this community and, most importantly of all, with each other.  It may take time for you to heal from this process and this vote but the Church will stand as the open, loving symbol it has always been with pews full of open, loving arms for all.  The Administrative Council thanks each of you for your patience, prayers and love we as we have worked our way through this process.  Now it is time to renew our call and our action and live our mission within this community and this world as God's children. 

–Kristen Hylton, SPPRC Chair