Following an abrupt halt and an ensuing lawsuit, 180-plus North Georgia churches can proceed with the process of splitting from the United Methodist Church.
Cobb County Superior Court Judge Steven Schuster on Tuesday lifted the “pause” the North Georgia Conference of the denomination implemented in late 2022 — a response to what it said was rampant disinformation that undermined the integrity of the disaffiliation process.
Critics said the conference was making a desperate effort to hold together when it became clear that, amid a historic schism, hundreds of its member churches might join the wave of theologically conservative congregations leaving the large Christian denomination.
The court decision allows the North Georgia churches to promptly hold official congregational votes on whether to disaffiliate, though details such as when the conference would gather to ratify disaffiliations still need to be worked out, according to a Tuesday email from the Wesleyan Covenant Association of North Georgia, which had advocated for disaffiliating churches.
More than 200 people filled the courtroom and overflow rooms, said the email, which heralded the day as a significant step forward.