MD SB172

Repeals the requirement that all Methodist Church assets be held in trust for the United Methodist Church and subject to its discipline and control

Allows local Methodist churches to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Conference while retaining ownership of their real property

Requires disaffiliating churches to reimburse the United Methodist Conference for financial investments the Conference made toward acquiring, maintaining, or improving the church's real property

Mandates that the United Methodist Conference provide disaffiliating churches with a full and transparent accounting of all Conference contributions to the property

Disaffiliating churches cannot be required to reimburse for property investments made by the local church itself

Effective date: October 1, 2026