Alabama Supreme Court Blocks United Methodist Churches from Leaving with Property

The Alabama Supreme Court has decided not to reconsider its earlier ruling against United Methodist churches that wanted to leave the denomination and keep their property. The court's decision was announced on Friday.

Previously, on May 31, the Alabama Supreme Court had ruled that these churches must resolve their disputes through the United Methodist Church’s own judicial system, rather than through state courts. The churches had asked for a rehearing, but the request was denied.

The United Methodist Judicial Court is currently reviewing church laws related to the disaffiliation process. This process could allow some Alabama churches to leave the denomination and take their property with them.

Over 40 churches have been involved in lawsuits against the Alabama-West Florida Conference because they were not allowed to leave the denomination with their property. The Alabama Supreme Court has stated that these churches must take their cases to the church’s judicial system instead of state courts.

For example, Guy’s Chapel, a 114-year-old church in Bay Minette, recently sued the Alabama-West Florida Conference to try to leave the United Methodist Church.

The United Methodist Church has been losing members for decades, with several million members leaving from 1968 until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The church was further divided in 2022-23 over whether to support LGBTQ rights.

Earlier this year, the United Methodist General Conference decided to fully support same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy, reversing previous policies. A breakaway group, the Global Methodist Church, chose to maintain the previous prohibitions.

In Alabama, more than half of the United Methodist congregations, about 555 churches, have disaffiliated since 2022. Nationwide, around 7,600 churches, or about a quarter of the denomination, have left.