North Georgia Episcopal Area

Conference members ratified disaffiliation agreements and prayed over departing churches during the 2022 North Georgia Annual Conference that took place June 2-4. In an email sent out Dec. 28, 2022, North Georgia Conference leaders announced they were pausing for now approving anymore disaffiliations. File photo courtesy of the North Georgia Conference.

North Georgia hits pause on disaffiliations

The largest United Methodist conference in the U.S. announced it is blocking church exits as a result of “the misleading, defamatory, and false statements and materials shared with local church members.”

General Church

A lawsuit and countersuit between the North Georgia Conference and Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta, Ga., has concluded with the megachurch agreeing to pay about $13.1 million to leave the denomination with property. Image courtesy of Google Maps.

Conference, megachurch reach legal settlement

Mt. Bethel Church has agreed to pay $13.1 million to the North Georgia Conference to leave The United Methodist Church with property.

Local Church

Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church has filed a counterclaim in response to a lawsuit by North Georgia Conference trustees. The legal dispute deals with property. Photo by Wendy Parker, East Cobb News.

Mt. Bethel countersues conference leaders

Attorneys for Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church argue that the North Georgia Conference is blocking the congregation’s efforts to disaffiliate.

Local Church

During an April 26 press conference given by Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, Jody Ray surrenders his clergy credentials in response to being reassigned by Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson. Church leaders also announced the congregation is beginning the process of disaffiliating from The United Methodist Church. Screenshot of livestream courtesy of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church.

Megachurch seeks exit over appointment strife

Leaders of the largest church in the North Georgia Conference say their pastor’s appointment process was mishandled. The bishop gives a different account.

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