We (The River Conference – TRC) have developed a process to help the UMC churches interested in affiliating with TRC.
- The typical process (adjusts based on context)
- Church contacts FMC or TRC about affiliating
- Assistant Superintendent sends a standard email with a link to TRC affiliation page
- The church schedules a ZOOM meeting that includes the pastor/s and key lay leadership.
- The church continues to discern if the TRC / FMC is where they affiliate.
- The church schedules a site visit weekend with the Superintendency.
- The weekend schedule:
Friday – Travel Day
Saturday – Meet with the Pastors and lay leadership for dinner and a question and answer (Q&A).
Sunday – Superintendency preaches
Sunday – All Church Gathering for Q&A
- The church informs the TRC / FMC of their decision regarding affiliating.
- If the church desires to affiliate, the superintendency develops a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
- The church begins the establish time of affiliation (from the MOU)
- After a time of affiliation the church becomes a Society, based on the details outlined in the MOU