Rise to the Moment of Truth Thursday, April 25, 2024

Tag: UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Harvest Alabama News
Pastor Ralph Sigler on Harvest Church’s UMC litigation: ‘With each victory we feel more confident that the law is on our side’

Members of Dothan’s Harvest Church are excited about a recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling involving the church’s litigation against the United Methodist Church, according to pastor Ralph Sigler.

Alabama Supreme Court Alabama News
Alabama Supreme Court allows Harvest Church’s lawsuit against United Methodist Church to continue

n Friday, the Alabama Supreme Court allowed Harvest Church's lawsuit against the United Methodist Church (UMC) to continue.

Harvestchurch Alabama News
Alabama Supreme Court hears oral arguments in property dispute between Dothan’s Harvest Church, United Methodist Church

The Alabama Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Harvest Church's lawsuit against the United Methodist Church on Wednesday.

Photo from Canterbury Methodists website Alabama News
A year of schism: A timeline of the United Methodist Church in Alabama in 2023

Since November 2022, over 500 congregations have disaffiliated from the two United Methodist Church conferences in Alabama — the Alabama-West Flordia Conference and the North Alabama Conference — as traditional churches pursued disaffiliation. 

Auburn United Methodist Church Alabama News
Former United Methodist members form new churches as disaffiliation rule nears expiration

An official rule permitting congregations to part ways with the United Methodist Church (UMC) while retaining church property is about to expire, but that does not mean the effects of this major split are over.

Church USA, LGBTQ flags Alabama News
547 churches have disaffiliated from UMC in Alabama conferences since November 2022 — What's next?

A total of 574 congregations have disaffiliated since November 2022 from the two United Methodist Church (UMC) conferences in Alabama as a rule permitting churches to leave while retaining church property is set to expire soon. 

Harvest Alabama News
Alabama Supreme Court to hear Dothan’s Harvest Church lawsuit against UMC

The Alabama Supreme Court agreed last Friday to hear oral arguments in Harvest Church’s lawsuit against the United Methodist Church.

church Alabama News
Montgomery Judge dismisses lawsuit from Methodist churches seeking to disaffiliate with UMC, 'hopeful' for Supreme Court appeal

A Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge recently dismissed a lawsuit brought by 45 Alabama Methodist churches seeking a vote to disaffiliate with the United Methodist Church and retain church property amidst nationwide turmoil within the denomination.

Birmingham-Southern College Alabama News
United Methodist Church benefits fund approves $2.5 million investment in struggling Birmingham-Southern contingent on Birmingham City Council action

The North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church’s Board of Pension and Health Benefits approved an investment on Thursday in Birmingham-Southern College for $2.5 million in support of the College’s efforts to remain open as it continues to secure funds for its permanent endowment. 

Auburn United Methodist Church Alabama News
Auburn United Methodist Church files suit against United Methodist Church to force disaffiliation vote, establish property ownership

A coalition of members of the Auburn United Methodist Church recently filed a suit in Lee County to allow the congregation to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church and establish the congregants as the sole owners of the church’s property.

I Stock 1359929580 Alabama News
Confusion reigns as North Alabama UMC conference comes to close

The 2023 Conference of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church ended on Saturday. It was a much-observed event as it was unclear what direction the embattled group would take, having lost over half its membership recently due to disaffiliation by member churches over cultural issues like the church's position on homosexuality.

North Alabama Conference of FUMC Alabama News
North Alabama Conference of United Methodist Church approves resolution urging the removal of restrictions on homosexuality

By a vote of 236 to 151, the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church voted to remove language regarding restrictions on homosexuality from the Book of Discipline, its governing document. The resolution approved by The Commission on Petitions and Procedures before the meeting stated that "the current language … on human sexuality has fostered painful division."

FUM Cmont Alabama News
First United Methodist Church-Montgomery continues to seek ways to disaffiliate despite rule change

First United Methodist Church-Montgomery is continuing to explore options to disassociate from the UMC denomination after a recent rule change in the church’s hierarchy changed the process by which churches can leave the denomination.

Rev John Blount Photo from St Andrews website Alabama News
United Methodist pastor in Alabama-West Florida Conference: Disaffiliation rule change ‘really just unfair’ to churches that trusted bishop, conference leadership

Rev. John Blount of St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Panama City, Fla., called into question the integrity of the United Methodist Church’s Alabama West Florida Conference leadership at this week’s annual conference.

AWFC Board of Trustees President Olivia Poole Photo from You Tube Alabama News
UMC Alabama-West Florida Conference ends as leadership defends new disaffiliation rule, delegates ask questions

In the final business session of the United Methodist Church’s Alabama-West Florida Conference’s (AWFC) annual conference on Wednesday, an AWFC trustee addressed a new policy that makes it harder for churches to disaffiliate from the denomination, sparking questions from the delegates in attendance.

Photo by Will Blakely Alabama News
United Methodist Church Alabama-West Florida approves rule clarification preventing 275 disaffiliated clergies from receiving post-retirement medical benefits

MOBILE - The United Methodist Church’s (UMC) Alabama-West Florida Conference (AWFC) elected to approve a rule clarification by its Board of Trustees which would prevent over 200 disaffiliating clergy from receiving retirement benefits. 

Geoffrey Lentz Alabama News
Leaked email shows newly elected UMC General Conference delegate touting new Alabama-West Florida Conference rule change - ‘The days of mass and easy disaffiliation’ are over

A leaked email shows a newly elected delegate to the United Methodist Church’s General Conference congratulating other UMC clergy within the Alabama-West Florida Conference for moving forward with a rule that makes it more difficult for traditional churches to disaffiliate from the denomination while retaining church property.

Photo from Canterbury United Methodists Facebook page Alabama News
Mountain Brook’s Canterbury United Methodist Church votes to remain in UMC

On Monday, Mountain Brook’s Canterbury United Methodist Church voted to remain in the United Methodist Church and not follow the over 500 traditional Methodist churches in Alabama, choosing to leave the denomination over its embracing of progressive policies.

Bishop David Graves Photo from You Tube Alabama News
‘I’m kind of over it’ — Bishop David Graves delivers opening remarks at UMC Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference as churches continue to weigh disaffiliation

Bishop David Graves of the United Methodist Church’s Alabama-West Florida Conference delivered the opening remarks at the annual conference on Sunday as churches in the state's southern half continue to weigh disaffiliation from the denomination.

Photo from Canterbury United Methodists Facebook page Alabama News
Discernment team at Mountain Brook’s Canterbury United Methodist recommends church remain in denomination

A discernment team for Mountain Brook’s Canterbury United Methodist Church recommended the over-4,000-member congregation remain in the United Methodist Church (UMC) in spite of over 500 traditional Methodist churches in Alabama choosing to leave the denomination so far. 

Alabama West Florida Conference Bishop David Graves Photo from the AWF Cs Facebook page Alabama News
United Methodist Church Alabama-West Florida Conference changes terms on churches voting to break away; Traditional Methodists call it a 'nail in the coffin'

Trustees for the Alabama-West Florida Conference (AWFC) of the United Methodist Church (UMC) released an updated disaffiliation eligibility policy on Tuesday, which conservative Methodist leaders are calling a “nail in the coffin” for conservative churches in the conference who are seeking to leave the denomination while retaining church property.

Harvestchurch Alabama News
Dothan’s Harvest Church in legal battle after UMC disaffiliation

Harvest Church in Dothan is currently suing the United Methodist Church over a property dispute after the church announced recently it was disaffiliating from the denomination. 

FUM Cmont Alabama News
First United Methodist Church-Montgomery considering leaving UMC denomination

Members of the administrative board of First United Methodist Church - Montgomery voted on Wednesday night to begin the discernment process to consider whether or not to leave the United Methodist Church (UMC) denomination.

Crosses Alabama News
More Alabama churches leave United Methodist, bringing total to around 500 since December

Nearly 150 Methodist congregations in North Alabama chose to disaffiliate with the United Methodist Church on Thursday, just four days after almost 200 churches in the Southern half of the state left the denomination on Monday. 

Photo by Kenny Eliason Alabama News
Nearly 200 south Alabama churches leave United Methodist Church

Nearly 200 churches in the Alabama-West Florida Conference disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church on Sunday, becoming the next wave of churches in Alabama to leave to distinguish themselves from progressives.

church Alabama News
Nearly 200 north Alabama churches leave United Methodist Church over disputes between traditional Christians, progressives

Nearly 200 Alabama churches officially seceded from the United Methodist Church (UMC) last weekend following years of conflict over social and theological issues.