United Methodist Church Property Handbook: Theology, Law, and Practice

United Methodist Church Property Handbook: Theology, Law, and Practice is a clear, practical, and theologically grounded guide to one of the most important—and often misunderstood—areas of United Methodist life: church property.Written by Luan-Vu Tran, an ordained United Methodist minister, attorney, former Judicial Council member, and church-law scholar, this handbook helps pastors, trustees, district superintendents, bishops, chancellors, conference leaders, and lay leaders understand how United Methodist property is held, governed, used, sold, leased, developed, closed, and stewarded under The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2020/2024.More than a technical legal manual, this book frames church property as a sacred trust. It explains how theology, connectionalism, the trust clause, constitutional polity, civil law, and practical governance come together in the stewardship of local church buildings, parsonages, land, endowments, records, and other assets.Inside, readers will find accessible guidance on:• The theology of property as stewardship, not possession• The trust clause and its role in United Methodist connectionalism• The responsibilities of trustees, charge conferences, church councils, finance committees, district bodies, and annual conferences• Deeds, title, incorporation, implied trusts, and civil-law compliance• Purchases, sales, transfers, mortgages, long-term leases, and shared use of church facilities• Building projects, major remodeling, parsonages, mergers, closures, disaffiliation, and reaffiliation• Due diligence questions and best practices before major property decisions• Judicial Council decisions affecting United Methodist property law• Federal and California court approaches to church property disputesDesigned for both study and practical use, the handbook includes summaries, key points, vignettes, checklists, diagrams, Judicial Council decision summaries, a bibliography, and an index for research.Whether your church is considering a lease, sale, building project, merger, closure, property dispute, or long-range stewardship plan, this handbook offers a disciplined and mission-centered framework for faithful decision-making.A practical resource for United Methodists seeking to steward church property with legal clarity, theological depth, connectional accountability, and pastoral wisdom. Read more