Article II of the Constitution & ByLaws of the organization states: “The purpose of this organization is to establish and maintain a Christian Church in Southern New Jersey which maintains the full authority of Scripture as God’s revealed Word, practicing in alignment with the Wesleyan tradition.”

The legal filing to establish WVSJ was submitted to the State of New Jersey on October 20, 2022 as a NJ nonprofit corporation, and was confirmed as a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization by the IRS in 2023. Donations to WVSJ are recognized by the IRS as fully deductible charitable donations, effective as of the October 20, 2022 filing date.

The need for the creation of WVSJ is directly related to the denominational splintering of the United Methodist Church [UMC] in the US, which has consistently moved away from its traditional heritage and interpretation of scripture, and its continued adoption of culturally progressive positions. Following the approved pathway for disaffiliation known as 2553, over 7,000 local congregations have separated from the UMC until the pathway was closed in December 2023.

While the departures nationally were significant, few local churches in Southern NJ engaged in that process as administered by the NJ leadership of the UMC. Yet, there are many individual members and local churches who hold to the traditional Wesleyan practices and teaching of Methodism, which are no longer embraced by the denomination to which they have been faithful members. For such individuals and local congregations desiring to to so, leaving behind their current location to plant a new church that can operate beyond the authority of the UMC is one of the pathways to independence which merits prayerful consideration.

WVSJ serves as a place where such likeminded individuals may direct their obedience in giving to create a fund that can become a financial resource in support of the establishment and initial operation of new church startups that embrace traditional Wesleyan Methodism.

WVSJ is set up with a mission and structure that allows for flexibility in the face of an unknown future, and all donations may be distributed to applicant start-up churches meeting the parameters of the Mission Statement. Donors may advise that their gifts be targeted to a specific start-up effort (such as the rebirth of an existing congregation), or may be received without donor-advisement in support of any qualifying church plant. WVSJ all make every effort to honor such donor-advisement, however no donations are to be ‘restricted’ or ‘designated’ for a specific use. Any donor-advisement provisions shall not extend beyond a period of 3 years from the date of the donation.