PHILLIPS – Members of the Phillips United Methodist Church voted Sunday to give ownership of the church building to the United Methodist Conference, the governing body for Methodist churches.

That decision awaits approval at the conference’s annual meeting in June, said Mary Dunham, lay-leader of the conference.

The Phillips United Methodist Church entered into a shared ministry with the Phillips Congregational Church in 1969, Pat Matulaitis said recently. Both congregations were looking to save money by sharing a minister, but each denomination kept its own buildings. The combined congregation has since met for six months in one building and six months in the other.

To maintain and insure both buildings has become a struggle for the Shared Ministry congregation whose numbers have dwindled over the years. The Congregational Church provides more accessibility than the Methodist building.

Members of the Phillips United Methodist Church were invited to meet Sunday with the district superintendent, the Rev. Beverly Stenmark, and Gary Akeley, buildings committee trustee for the United Methodist Conference to discuss options for the future of the building.

“It was a decision made with great difficulty and much discussion but the church decided to abandon the building to the conference,” Dunham said.

The local congregation will continue to insure the building through Dec. 31 with the conference trustees assuming responsibility Jan. 1. Congregation members will also continue to check on the building throughout the winter and spring until the conference is held in June.

In return for surrendering the building, the New England Conference will be asked to forgive past financial obligations owed to the conference.

Stenmark told the congregation that it was a no-win situation for everyone involved leaving a very sad and hard decision to make, Dunham added.

“It’s like a lot of old buildings . . . whether it’s masonic buildings or grange halls or even family homes . . . there’s a point where we have to downsize,” she said.

A service to deconsecrate the building is planned for the spring along with a celebration of the past ministry of the building.

The Phillips Shared Ministry will continue to exist regardless and is open to visitors, she added.