Florida Judge Dismisses Lawsuit by United Methodist Churches Seeking to Leave Conference

More than 100 United Methodist churches in Florida filed a lawsuit on July 14, 2022, in Bradford County against the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. The churches sought to disaffiliate from the denomination immediately. The National Center for Life and Liberty brought the suit, according to thebanner.org.

The 106 churches alleged that the disaffiliation requirements approved by a special session of General Conference were “onerous, and in many cases, prohibitive.” The disaffiliation plan allows churches to take their properties with them through 2023 after paying apportionments and pension liabilities. The suit alleged that the annual conference was using the disaffiliation plan and trust clause to “hold for ransom” the churches’ property. It also alleged that the Council of Bishops and Bishop Ken Carter, who heads the Florida and Western North Carolina conferences, were not abiding by the Book of Discipline. These were the plaintiffs’ allegations, and the source reports them as claims rather than findings.

Keith Boyette, of the conservative Global Methodist Church, said Florida was the first of what he anticipated could be a number of similar lawsuits. Carter responded that the Florida Annual Conference was “deeply grieved by this, as we seek to be a church united in love and in mission,” a statement that reflects the conference’s hope for unity among its churches (John 17:21).

According to MinistryWatch, Judge George M. Wright granted a motion to dismiss the suit on Monday, April 17, ruling that the court lacked jurisdiction. The report does not give the year of the ruling. The conference had argued that the Judicial Council ruled churches must follow the disaffiliation plan approved by a 2019 special session of General Conference.

Florida Bishop Tom Berlin said the ruling clarifies that churches wishing to leave the conference must follow the denomination’s rules. MinistryWatch reported that the judge left the dismissal open for an appeal, citing United Methodist News.

The reports differ on the number of churches involved. The thebanner.org report gives the figure as 106 churches at the time of filing. MinistryWatch reports that the number of churches in the lawsuit dwindled to 71 as others withdrew to follow the denomination’s disaffiliation plan. The UMNews.org report, which is cited in the source material, contains only a partial account, beginning with the figure of 106 churches filing suit, and it adds no further detail on the count.