The vote to disband University Methodist Church was unanimous. But the decision to disband was not.

At the Called Church Conference in March, intended solely to elect brother David O. Troupe as pastor, superintendant Jack Conner announced the Church Extension Board of the Mid-States District of the Evangelical Methodist Church wished to take on the property rights and operation of University EMC in Denton. The Conference (all voting University EMC members who were present) took no action on this, and verbally expressed a desire to meet on this issue later.

An Administrative Board meeting was called soon after the Conference which addressed the issue of surrendering property rights. It was decided that since the church had recently hired a new pastor, that the board should first settle other issues such as the pastor's salary, parsonage improvments and financing increased evangelism efforts in the community. The board unanimously decided not to call a church conference for the purpose of surrendering property.

In June, pastor Troupe called a special Called Church Conference for June 13th, 2001 to decide whether to disband the church and surrender the property and assets of University EMC to the District. The Conference was held without any prior discussion and was a surprise to many in attendance.

The Conference, after a heated two-hour debate, voted to dissolve University EMC and surrender remaining property and monies to the District. The vote was ultimately unamimous, with two dissenting members abstaining.

Superintendant Conner expressed that the District will now move to establish a mission in Denton, to be headed by pastor Troupe. The mission will have the possibillty after some growth in attendance, to become an "official church," so that Denton may have an official EMC church once again.

"This is a new beginning for the EMC of Denton," supt. Conner said. "By deciding to start over fresh, you have buried the past and stepped out on faith."

All voting members present, besides former Administrative Board chairman Andrew Hogue, signed the new mission charter.

Many church members felt confused by the proceedings of the Called Conference, especially amidst talk of moving to a new location, possibly Wellspring Christian Academy, where Asbury United Methodist Church once met. Some came to the Conference to vote "Yes" to moving to a new location, unaware of the property rights and disbandment aspects.

ABOVE: "Moved" is painted carelessly across
the University Methodist Church
outdoor sign, shortly after the
Conference.

Supporters of the motion said allowing the District to manage the church property and establish a mission would add administrative experience and extra financial opportunities to the congregation.

"I feel that when we've been offered something, we should take it," said David Johnson, worship leader. "This is the only window we have in which to do this, and I think we should go for it."

The opposition said surrendering property and the operations of the church to the District would only encumber the work of the congregation and add red tape to decision-making.

Chairman Hogue, reading aloud a letter to the Conference, said letting local churches experiment with different worship and evangelism methods independent of outside control is the only hope the fledgeling EMC denomination has.

"If one of us gets it right, and finds out what it is that John Wesley had which caused a worldwide revival to breakout, then that church shall lead the others by example," he said. "What the EMC has today is obviously not working. Local autonomy may be our last, best hope."

The EMC nationally has 110 churches, down from 128 in 1990, according to a communique by general superintendant Ed Williamson. Attendance is estimated at roughly 6,000 members across the United States, down from 8,000 in 1990.

Another letter, written by church treasurer Barbara Gail Smartt, who was ill the night of the Conference, inquired of various checks and financial transactions which were made without Administrative Board approval. Her letter questioned the integrity of the district and of the pastor.

Her inquiry met some uneasy feelings and heckling from certain members. Conference parliamentarian, brother Russ Cochran, pastor of Hillside EMC in Copperas Cove, demanded that the letter be read without interuption since Hogue had the floor.

Pastor Troupe is reported to have said that he would resign as pastor if there were one negative vote. The two dissenting members abstained from voting so that pastor Troupe would stay. A few others voted yes despite previous intents to vote no.