In a letter to United Methodists in the Western North Carolina Conference, Bishop Ken Carter said he hoped to provide support and love to churches that want out.
“We ask that, despite their haste, any groups seeking to break away uphold the obligations of and responsibilities of churches seeking ‘disaffiliation’ which were established by the General Conference in 2019, and that they not cause pain, damage, or disparage other United Methodist churches, other members in their churches, other pastors, or the Conference,” Carter wrote.
Carter, who is also the bishop of the Florida United Methodist Conference, said in a letter dated Monday (Dec. 5) that some of the 100-plus churches that had sued in court have reconsidered and no longer want to be part of the suit. “They have notified us that they wish to pursue the previously established process of disaffiliation,” Carter said. He did not specify how many churches have reconsidered.
In the Florida conference, 14 churches have formally disaffiliated, six are in process of doing so and another six are voting on whether to leave this month.
This article originally appeared here.
