Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people. I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men. The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.
Micah:2:10-13


The Detroit News



Five dozen Michigan churches will disassociate from the United Methodist Church on Saturday, a move that stems from a rift over LGBTQ+ issues and adherence to doctrine.
The prophet, looking down the ages, had this time presented before his vision. The nations of this age have been the recipients of unprecedented mercies. The choicest of Heaven’s blessings have been given them; but increased pride, covetousness, idolatry, contempt of God, and base ingratitude, are written against them. They are fast closing up their account with God. RH January 11, 1887, par. 6

The Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church adopted a motion to disaffiliate 60 assemblies, about 8% of the state’s United Methodist Churches, from its denomination, according to Mark Doyal, communications director for the Michigan UMC.

The fracture in one of the country’s largest Protestant denominations stems from the idea that the church is weakening its interpretation of its Book of Discipline, or its church law, allowing for same-sex marriages as well as LGBTQ+ clergy. Many of the departing churches have cited these issues as reasons for disaffiliating.
But that which causes me to tremble, is the fact that those who have had the greatest light and privileges have become contaminated by the prevailing iniquity. Influenced by the unrighteous around them, many, even of those who profess the truth, have grown cold, and are borne down by the strong current of evil. The universal scorn thrown upon true piety and holiness, leads those who do not connect closely with God to lose their reverence for his law. If they were following the light, and obeying the truth from the heart, this holy law would seem even more precious to them when despised and set aside. As the disrespect for God’s law becomes more manifest, the line of demarkation between its observers and the world becomes more distinct. Love for the divine precepts increases with one class, according as contempt for them increases with the other class.
The crisis is fast approaching. The rapidly swelling figures show that the time for God’s visitations has nearly come. Although loth to punish, nevertheless he will punish, and that speedily. Those who walk in the light will see signs of the approaching peril; but they are not to sit in quiet, unconcerned expectancy of the ruin, comforting themselves with the belief that God will shelter his people in the day of visitation. Far from it. They should realize that it is their duty to labor diligently to save others, looking with strong faith to God for help.
The command is, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” These sighing, crying ones had been holding forth the words of life; they had reproved, counseled, and entreated. Some who had been dishonoring God repented and humbled their hearts before him. But the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel. Although many still continued the forms of religion, its power and presence were lacking.
In the time when his wrath shall go forth in judgments, the humble, devoted followers of Christ will be distinguished from the rest of the world by their soul anguish, which will be expressed in lamentation and weeping, reproofs and warnings. While others try to throw a cloak over the existing evil, and excuse the great wickedness everywhere prevalent, those who have a zeal for God’s honor and a love for souls will not hold their peace to obtain favor of any. Their righteous souls will be vexed day by day with the unholy works and conversation of the unrighteous. They will be powerless to stop the rushing torrent of iniquity, and hence they will be filled with grief and alarm. They will mourn before God to see religion despised in the very homes of those who have had great light. They will lament and afflict their souls because pride, avarice, selfishness, and deception of almost every kind are in the church.
The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God. The Lord commissions his messengers, the men with slaughtering weapons in their hands: “Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.”
Here we see that the church—the Lord’s sanctuary—was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light, and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. This shows us that we must not look to men for example. We need to stay our faith upon God; for there is just before us a time that will try men’s souls. Christ upon the Mount of Olives rehearsed the fearful judgments that were to precede his second coming: “Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars.” “Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” While these prophecies received a partial fulfillment at the destruction of Jerusalem, they have a more direct application in the last days.
John also was a witness of the terrible scenes that will take place as signs of Christ’s coming. He saw armies mustering for battle, and men’s hearts failing them for fear. He saw the earth moved out of its place, the mountains carried into the midst of the sea, the waves thereof roaring and troubled, and the mountains shaking with the swelling thereof. He saw the vials of God’s wrath opened, and pestilence, famine, and death come upon the inhabitants of the earth.
Already the restraining Spirit of God is being withdrawn from the earth. Hurricanes, storms, tempests, fire and flood, disasters by sea and land, follow each other in quick succession. Science seeks to explain all these. The signs thickening around us, telling of the near approach of the Son of God, are attributed to any other than the true cause. Men cannot discern the sentinel angels restraining the four winds that they may not blow until the servants of God are sealed; but when God shall bid his angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of his avenging wrath as no pen can picture.
We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Prophecy is fast fulfilling. The Lord is at the door. There is soon to open before us a period of overwhelming interest to all living. The controversies of the past are to be revived. New controversies will arise. The scenes to be enacted in our world are not even dreamed of. Satan is at work through human agencies. Those who are making so great efforts to change the Constitution and secure a law enforcing the first day of the week little realize what will be the result. A crisis is just upon us RH January 11, 1887, par. 7 – RH January 11, 1887, par. 15

During the hour-long meeting Saturday afternoon held at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, many described the disaffiliation as “difficult,” some with tears in their eyes and requests for prayer for the severing assemblies.
“I simply want to express my deep appreciation for the respectful tone that we’ve shared here in this moment,” said Bishop David Alan Bard, presiding bishop of the UMC Michigan Conference. “This is a difficult moment for the United Methodist Church.”

The number of disaffiliating churches in Michigan is considerably lower than many other conferences around the nation, Doyal said. Eight churches in Michigan have formally left the United Methodist Church, many joining the Global Methodist Church, a more conservative denomination launched in May 2022, according to a church news release.
Our Present Duty and the Coming CrisisRH January 11, 1887EGW
Review and Herald, Ellen G White
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” The very atmosphere is polluted with sin. Soon God’s people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal. Instead of being strengthened and confirmed by opposition, threats, and abuse, they will cowardly take the side of the opposers. The promise is, “Them that honor me I will honor.” Shall we be less firmly attached to God’s law because the world at large have attempted to make it void?
Already the judgments of God are abroad in the land, as seen in storms, in floods, in tempests, in earthquakes, in perils by land and by sea. The great I AM is speaking to those who make void his law. When God’s wrath is poured out upon the earth, who will then be able to stand? Now is the time for God’s people to show themselves true to principle. When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when his law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few,—this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason. The nation will be on the side of the great rebel leader.
The days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place, we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that his fan is in his hand, and that he soon will thoroughly purge his floor RH January 11, 1887 – RH January 11, 1887, par. 3

One territory in Tennessee has seen 264 departures approved this year, and another in Georgia had 194, according to the United Methodist Church.

The departing churches must satisfy the requirements of a disaffiliation agreement to sever ties with the church by July 1, according to the release. If a congregation fails to do so, it would be held over for another vote at a special session scheduled for Nov. 30, paving the way for a disaffiliation date of Dec. 31.
The disaffiliation agreement includes an “equity component of two times ministry shares, unless waived.” According to the adopted motion, 28 of the 60 churches have received a waiver of the equity component.
Other requirements include:
- A two-thirds vote in favor of disaffiliation at a duly called church conference
- Unpaid ministry shares for the previous 12 months
- Additional 12 months of ministry shares
- Pro-rata share of aggregate unfunded pension obligation
- Unpaid health and benefit balances
- Unpaid loans and obligations to United Methodist entities, unless assigned
- Covenants concerning the retention of records and the use of intellectual property
- Quitclaim deed from the conference with the release of the trust clause
0:12
1:41
In Metro Detroit, those disaffiliating include the Korean United Methodist Church of Metro Detroit in Troy, Korean First Central United Methodist Church in Madison Heights and Fraser: Christ United Methodist Church in Fraser.
Korean UMC in Troy is one of the largest departing congregations, Doyal said. The Troy congregation will join the Global Methodist Church. The Global Methodist Church maintains a doctrine that marriage is between one man and a woman, which is the same as the United Methodist Church’s formal beliefs, officials said.
The doctrine should be preserved rather than accommodating “the culture in which it lives,” Keith Boyette, chief executive of the Global Methodist Church, told The Detroit News in December.
“The doctrine of the church should be determined by the church, and congregations should live out that doctrine,” Boyette said. “We believe the doctrine we have has been received generations ago, not that it is something we create today based on whichever way the wind blows.”
The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. RH January 11, 1887, par. 4

The decision to disaffiliate, some say, was a difficult one.
“I choose to speak as if this might be my last annual conference,” said Kevin Harbin, pastor of Houghton Lake United Methodist Church, one of the departing churches. “I do so, trusting that the churches and pastors represented here are going to support this disaffiliation, with a great deal of gratitude.
“… It’s difficult at best to make the decision as some of us have, but I just want to let this conference know how grateful I have been through these years to serve alongside you,” Harbin said. “I leave with an expression of gratitude.”
List of Michigan’s disaffiliating assemblies
CENTRAL BAY DISTRICT
1. Caseville
2. Elkton
3. Hale: First
4. Midland: Aldersgate
5. Pigeon: Salem
6. Tawas
7. Wisner
EAST WINDS DISTRICT
8. Applegate
9. Attica
10. Buel
11. Byron: First
12. Cole
13. Croswell: First
14. Dryden
15. Durand
16. Holly: Calvary
17. Imlay City
18. Lamb
19. Lennon
20. Marlette: First
21. McGregor
22. Melvin
23. Memphis: First
24. Montrose
25. Omard
26. Ortonville
27. Port Huron: Gratiot Park
28. Richfield
29. Seymour Lake
30. South Mundy
GREATER DETROIT DISTRICT
31. Fraser: Christ
32. Korean of Metro Detroit
33. Korean First Central
GREATER SOUTHWEST DISTRICT
34. Arden
35. Battle Creek: Maple
36. Berrien Springs
37. Buchanan: Faith
38. Dowling: Country Chapel
39. Pokagon
40. Scottdale
41. Wakelee
HERITAGE DISTRICT
42. Dexter
43. Highland: Thrive
44. LaSalle: Zion
45. Lee Center
46. Weston
MID-MICHIGAN DISTRICT
47. Beebe
48. Corunna: Northwest Venice
49. Lake Odessa: Lakewood
50. Lowe
51. Pittsburg
52. St. John: Pilgrim
MIDWEST DISTRICT
53. Carlisle
54. Cornerstone
55. Leighton
NORTHERN SKIES DISTRICT
56. Iron Mountain: First
57. L’Anse
58. Mackinaw City: Church of the Straits
59. Pickford
NORTHERN WATERS DISTRICT
60. Houghton Lake
jaimery@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @wordsbyjakkar