April 10, 2013
(Submitted by Pat MacHugh, District Superintendent, Northern Maine District)
WHEREAS the Easton United Methodist Church located in Aroostook County, Easton, ME, has existed for 103 years with a long and proud history of mission and ministry; and
WHEREAS in their ongoing efforts to be faithful to God and responsible to their obligations they have had a ¼ time pastoral appointment for several years in addition to maintaining their building, and have had considerable support from the other churches of the Aroostook Cluster; and
WHEREAS the membership of the Easton United Methodist Church has significantly decreased and in December of 2012 they began to worship with the Mars Hill UMC; and
WHEREAS the congregation has prayerfully explored all of their options for several years, including participating in a “possibility study” (¶213); and
WHEREAS on November 10, 2012, at a regularly called Charge Conference convened as a full Church Conference the remaining members of the congregation unanimously gave thanks to Almighty God for their long history, celebrated their history and journey and decided to say goodbye to the Easton United Methodist Church and to begin a new chapter in their faith journey; and
WHEREAS a final worship service of celebration and de-consecration will be held on June 23, 2013; and
WHEREAS the District Superintendent, has recommended the Discontinuation of the Easton United Methodist Church and has received consent from the presiding Bishop, a majority of the District Superintendents, and all proper Disciplinary requirements have been complied with,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Easton United Methodist Church be declared discontinued effective June 30, 2013, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in accordance with the wishes of the congregation, the membership of the Easton United Methodist Church will be transferred to the Mars Hill United Methodist Church unless members request otherwise; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the building belonging to the Easton United Methodist Church, and any other assets and property belonging to the Easton United Methodist Church which are not otherwise designated prior to the date of discontinuance, shall become the property of the Trustees of the New England Annual Conference, and that assets shall be deployed as directed by the Book of Discipline and the New England Conference policies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a local Board of Trustees will be established to care for paying outstanding commitments as the responsibility for the building are handed over to the New England Conference Board of Trustees. Should any assets be discovered in future years, such assets should be transferred to the New England Conference, to be used as directed by the Book of Discipline and the New England Conference policies.