The New Mexico Annual Conference is making available the following resources to Clergy in Full Connection (Active or Retired) who are deciding to terminate their membership, and for Local Pastors who are deciding to discontinue their relationship with the New Mexico Annual Conference.
1. WRITTEN REQUEST TEMPLATES
Clergy in Full Connection - ¶ 360.1 - Request to Terminate Membership
Local Pastor - ¶ 320.1 - Request to Discontinue Relationship as a Licensed Local Pastor
Upon completion of form and receipt from the Conference Secretary, the next Clergy Session at The New Mexico Annual Conference will be informed of your withdrawal and your new status will be entered into the Official Business of the Annual Conference.
Upon receipt of this request and administrative processing you will receive an acknowledgement of your request sent to the noted email address.
2. INSCRIPTION ON ORDINATION CERTIFICATE
If a withdrawing clergy member (Elder or Deacon) desires to retain their ordination credentials, the conference secretary will inscribe on the face of the ordination credential the following inscription: “The New Mexico Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church recognizes that (name of clergy member) has withdrawn from conference membership and altogether from the ministry of The United Methodist Church.”
A copy of the ordination credentials, so inscribed, will be deposited with the conference secretary
For inscription purposes, Clergy members (Elder or Deacon) who desire to retain their ordination credentials, must mail or bring in person their original Ordination Certificate to the conference secretary to 11816 Lomas Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112
If a certificate of ordination no longer exists, a letter should be presented to the clergy member stating the same (signed by the clergy member and conference secretary, and notarized) and a copy of the letter will be deposited with the conference secretary.
3. LOCAL PASTOR LICENSES
If a Licensed Local Pastor is requesting discontinuance per Paragraph 320.1, the License and credentials shall be surrendered to the District Superintendent for deposit with the secretary of the conference
4. PENSION AND HEALTH BENEFITS INFORMATION
New Mexico Conference Benefits for Active Clergy
HealthFlex Continuation of Coverage
HealthFlex Enrollment Change Form – Continuation of Coverage
For benefits specific to New Mexico Conference of the UMC contact Anna Marshall at (505)-255-8786 extension 102, email
Wespath – Pension & Benefit Resources
Wespath Disaffiliation Landing Page
Wespath Disaffiliation FAQ
Wespath Benefit Overview - Clergy Withdrawal
Benefit Plan Opportunities for Churches that Disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church
Connect with Wespath at www.wespath.org / 1-800-851-2201
Global Methodist Church
Comparison of GMC vs UMC
GMC FAQs (including benefits information)
For benefits specific to GMC contact Rick Van Geisen, Benefits Coordinator at rvangiesen@globalmethodist.org.