A Response to the Local Church Disaffiliation Lawsuit

The Alabama-West Florida Conference (AWF) of the United Methodist Church is aware of several churches in our conference that have filed a lawsuit requesting the court intervene in the disaffiliation process. These churches have not met the eligibility requirements for voting to disaffiliate under the Book of Discipline. The Board of Trustees of the AWF Conference has worked diligently since Annual Conference 2023 to process local churches seeking disaffiliation under Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline in preparation for the November Special Called Annual Conference. We are saddened by this litigation, but we are confident the process we have adhered to is fair and just. Our primary focus continues to be on the mission of The United Methodist Church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. That is unchanging. We pray for all involved and will model grace, love and kindness throughout this process.

-The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church 

Media contact: 
Mary Catherine Phillips
Director of Communications
marycatherine@awfumc.org