140+ more MS United Methodist churches set to leave fold in Saturday vote. See which ones
The contraction of Mississippi's United Methodist Church for 2023 will conclude on Saturday.
That is when around 16% of all of Mississippi's United Methodist Churches that were members coming into 2023 are likely to be allowed to leave the fold.
That process will take place Saturday morning as part of the session of the Mississippi Annual Conference at the Anderson United Methodist Church in Jackson. There are 142 churches that will be submitted for ratification to disaffiliate. That is in addition to 189 churches that were ratified to disaffiliate in a similar vote in June.
The 142 churches have completed the required steps to leave the denomination and are seeking ratification to disaffiliate that will be voted on in eight separate ballots. Results will not be released until results of all eight ballots are in.
This is the latest in the nationwide split of the church, which has been described by some as the largest denominational schism in the last 50 years.
Some churches standing pat: One pastor says there are no winners United Methodist Church schism
Schism impact on Millsaps College: What is the Methodist schism impact on Millsaps College? It's more than money
The issues for the United Methodist Church, in general, center around, but are not limited to, a difference in opinion about whether someone who identifies as LGBTQ should be ordained in churches. Other denominations, including the Episcopal church, have faced similar challenges in recent years. Amid issues surrounding human sexuality, hundreds of Episcopal churches splintered off nationally to move to the new, more conservative Anglican Church in North America, though no Mississippi parishes left the Episcopal fold.
This year is not the first time churches have chosen to leave the denomination over the same issues. It is just the largest group to do so as a combined 331 of the 856 (38.7%) fully connected members are expected to be allowed to disaffiliate in 2023.
Leading up to this year, a total of 55 churches disaffiliated from the conference with seven leaving in 2019, 11 in 2020, 23 in 2021 and 14 in 2022.
Mississippi Bishop Sharma Lewis did not respond to attempts for comment for this story ahead of the conference. Several other United Methodist ministers also chose not to make comments.
Leaving the church is a two-step process. First, a church must vote to disaffiliate from the Mississippi Conference. If two-thirds of the church members present for a vote then vote to leave, the church is then disaffiliated. But the Mississippi Conference must still ratify that church's departure.
In this round of voting, Mississippi churches had until the end of October to have a church vote.
In this latest round, Mississippi's largest Methodist church, Jackson's Christ United Methodist Church, voted to part ways with the UMC
It was reported to its members by email by Christ United Methodist Church that more than 86% voted to disaffiliate while a little more than 13% voted to remain United Methodist.
The vote required a 66.7% majority to move forward with disaffiliation.
A total of 830 votes were cast with 717 choosing to disaffiliate and 112 voting to remain United Methodist.
Others that held similar votes by October were St. Matthew's United Methodist Church in Madison, which voted not to split as did West Point and Starkville. However, in the same timeframe, Merigold, Ellisville and Brandon United Methodist Churches made the decision to switch to leave the United Methodist Church. Most are choosing to join with the Global Methodist Church.
In the first round of voting in March, the largest church to vote to disaffiliate was Madison United Methodist Church. There, an overwhelming majority of the MUMC members present voted to leave the church umbrella.
Of the 664 votes cast at the church conference, only 57 (8.6%) were cast to remain with the United Methodist denomination, while 605 votes (91.4%) were cast to disaffiliate. There were two abstentions.
United Methodist churches disaffiliating
Here is a list of all 142 churches within the Mississippi United Methodist conference, which are seeking ratification for disaffiliation from the conference on Saturday.
BALLOT 1
Brookhaven District
Pleasant Valley
Jackson St UMC
Hawkins Chapel
Crystal Springs
Hazlehurst UMC
Hopewell
Thirkield
St Paul
East Jackson District
Brandon
Canton FUMC
Singleton
Carthage
D'Lo
Bethany
Sherman Hill
Brandon Trinity
Holly Bush
Christ UMC
BALLOT 2
East Jackson District (cont.)
Lodebar
Lone Pine
Madden
Pearl
McLauren Heights
Mountain Ridge
Richland
St James
Taylorsville
Thornton
Johnson Chapel
Greenwood District
Carrollton
Merigold
Shipman Chapel
Ebenezer (Holmes)
Greenville First
Greenville Trinity
Bethel
BALLOT 3
Greenwood District (cont.)
Leland
Bethlehem
Lexington FUMC
Moorhead
Sunflower
Rosedale
Winona Moore Memorial
Hattiesburg District
Ellisville
Laurel First
Franklin
Gitano
West Laurel
Moselle
Mt Zion
Fairfield
Leona
Purvis
Tallowah
BALLOT 4
Hattiesburg District (cont.)
Seminary
Oakdale
Bethel Collins
Meridian District
Hopewell
Mt Pleasant
St Mark Dekalb
Liberty
New Hope
Lauderdale
Lynville
Mellen
Marion
Mars Hill
College Park
Pilgrim Hill
Henry's Chapel
Oak Grove
McGowan Chapel
BALLOT 5
Meridian District (cont.)
Pleasant Hill
Portersville
New Bethlehem
Hopewell: Rose Hill
Sageville
Binnsville
Blues Chapel
New Beginning
Spring Hill
New St. Matthew's
New Albany District
Harris Chapel
Liberty Ashland
Indian Springs
Hickory Flat
Winborn
Iuka
Pleasant Hill Iuka
Burnsville
BALLOT 6
New Albany District (cont.)
Harmony
Patrick
Jumpertown
Tula
Taylor
Potts Camp
Potts Camp Bethlehem
Cornersville
Salem (Etta)
Christ Ripley
Jacob Chapel
New Hope
Seashore District
Caswell Springs
Mt Pleasant Vancleave
St Paul Ocean Springs
Rosedale
Wiggins
H A Brown
BALLOT 7
Senatobia District
Charleston
Tippo
Coffeeville
Crenshaw
Greenleaf
Hinds Chapel
Lyon
Bethel
Shiloh
Southaven First
Starkville District
New Hope
Bellfountaine
Brooksville
Crawford
Shaeffers Chapel
Eupora
Adaton
BALLOT 8
Starkville District (cont.)
Maben
Cooksville
Macon
Liberty Hill
Palestine UMC Cedar Bluff
Tupelo District
Strong
Algoma
Palestine
Lewis Memorial
Friendship
Harden's Chapel
Pleasant Valley
Mantachie
Ozark
Fairview
Cornerstone
West Jackson District
Yazoo City-St Johns
Churches ratified to disaffiliate in June
Here is a list of all 189 churches within the Mississippi United Methodist conference, which were ratified in June to disaffiliate from the conference. Included is the church, votes for disaffiliation, again and the percentage.
Brookhaven District
Rehobeth, 13-0 − 100.00%
Beauregard, 42-0 −100.00%
Mallalieu, 6-0 − 100.00%
Chapel of the Cross, 15-1 − 93.75%
Ebenezer, 20-0 −100.00%
Community UMC, 6-0 − 100.00%
Gloster, 6-0 − 100.00%
Kokomo, 7-0 − 100.00%
Whittington Memorial, 7-0 − 100.00%
Meadville, 23-0 − 100.00%
Grace Natchez, 44-3 − 93.62%
Natchez Jefferson Street, 140-26 − 84.34%
New Hebron, 26-0 − 100.00%
New Hope, 50-5 − 90.91%
Greendale, 8-0 − 100.00%
Sartinville, 16-0 − 100.00%
Tilton, 36-0 − 100.00%
Tylertown, 35-8 − 81.40%
Woodville, 24-1 − 96.00%
East Jackson District
Gasque, 19-0 − 100.00%
Fannin, 40-0 − 100.00%
Freeny, 29-3 − 90.63%
Madison UMC, 605-57 − 91.39%
Magee, 60-2 − 96.77%
Pelahatachie, 22-0 − 100.00%
Puckett, 52-0 − 100.00%
Ridgeland First, 36-2 − 94.74%
Mize, 7-0 − 100.00%
Greenwood District
Avon UMC, 33-0 − 100.00%
Glen Allen, 39-1 − 97.50%
Benoit, 12-0 − 100.00%
Greenwood St John's, 130-23 − 84.97%
Hollandale, 21-0 − 100.00%
Indianola: Christ, 19-0 − 100.00%
Indianola FUMC, 157-8 −95.15%
Inverness, 78-1 − 98.73%
New Hope, (Winona) 30-1 − 96.77%
Silver City, 13-0 − 100.00%
Hattiesburg District
Collins, 43-3 − 93.48%
Good Hope, 4-0 − 100.00%
Mount Olive, 15-3 − 83.33%
Oak Grove Hatt, 131-58 − 69.31%
Petal Asbury, 60-9 −86.96%
Philadelphia Jasper Co., 23-0 −100.00%
Prentiss, 22-0 −100.00%
Santee, 8-0 −100.00%
Sumrall, 72-1 − 98.63%
Boyles Chapel, 7-0 −100.00%
Waynesboro, 67-1 −98.53%
Williamsburg, 28-0 −100.00%
Lone Star, 22-2 −91.67%
Winchester, 8-0 − 100.00
Meridian District
Chunky, 15-0 − 100.00%
Big Oak, 25-2 − 92.59%
Coker Chapel, 57-2 − 96.61%
Collinsville, 44-0 − 100.00%
Pleasant Ridge, 16-0 − 100.00%
Concord, 17-0 −100.00%
Cooks Chapel, 24-0 −100.00%
Coopers Chapel, 40-0 − 100.00%
New Hope Dekalb, 21-0 −100.00%
Pleasant Ridge, 5-0 − 100.00%
Spring Hill, 3-0 − 100.00%
Enterprise, 19-0 − 100.00%
North Bend Philadelphia, 16-0 − 100.00%
Hope-Philadelphia, 17-0 − 100.00%
Philadelphia First, 150-15 − 90.91%
Southside, 27-0 − 100.00%
Pleasant Grove, 14-0 − 100.00%
Sandtown, 126-1 − 99.21%
New Albany District
Baldwyn, 26-1 − 96.30%
Asbury, 25-0 − 100.00%
Belmont, 41-9 − 82.00%
Christ Boonville, 48-0 − 100.00%
Lebanon, 4-0 − 100.00%
Booneville First, 106-18 − 85.48%
Carolina, 32-0 − 100.00%
Pisgah, 20-0 − 100.00%
Corinth First, 107-9 − 92.24%
Gaines Chapel, 59-1 − 98.33%
Old Bethel, 20-3 −86.96%
Ingomar, 26-2 − 92.86%
Campground UMC, 13-0 − 100.00%
Rocky Springs, 7-0 − 100.00%
Snowdown, 11-0 − 100.00%
Spring Hill, 40-6 − 86.96%
Kossuth, 42-3 − 93.33%
Pleasant Hill, 12-0 − 100.00%
Liberty, 29-0 − 100.00%
Thrasher, 5-0 − 100.00%
Dumas, 24-0 − 100.00%
New Harmony, 16-0 − 100.00%
Paynes Chapel, 27-0 − 100.00%
New Albany Calvary, 29-4 − 87.88%
Mt Olivet, 10-0 − 100.00%
New Albany First, 317-76 − 80.66%
Christ, 6-0 − 100.00%
Cambridge, 5-0 − 100.00%
Pine Flat, 10-0 − 100.00%
Abbeville, 7-0 − 100.00%
Bethel Rienzi, 11-0 − 100.00%
Adkins Chapel, 24-0 − 100.00%
Ripley, 93-42 − 68.89%
Blue Mountain, 12-0 − 100.00%
Union Hill, 35-7 − 83.33%
Paradice, 10-0 − 100.00%
Seashore District
Refuge, 28-0 − 100.00%
Pleasant Hill, 23-3 − 88.46%
Big Point, 35-1 − 97.22%
Cedar Lake, 78-0 − 100.00%
Diamondhead, 63-29 − 68.48%
Gulfport Trinity, 262-22 − 92.25%
Hurley, 50-0 − 100.00%
Lucedale 1st, 123-5 − 96.09%
Grace Lucedale, 5-0 − 100.00%
Antioch, 17-0 − 100.00%
Pine Grove, 10-0 − 100.00%
Red Hill, 13-0 − 100.00%
Poplarhead, 42-1 − 97.67%
Wiggins: Bond, 9-1 − 90.00%
Senatobia District
Batesville, 222-29 − 88.45%
Clarksdale UMC, 117-5 − 95.90%
Cochram, 20-0 − 100.00%
Como UMC, 64-5 − 92.75%
Wesley Chapel UMC, 21-0 − 100.00%
Eureka UMC, 46-0 − 100.00%
Eudora, 20-4 − 83.33%
Hernando, 318-9 − 97.25%
Holly Springs, 67-1 − 98.53%
Waterford, 17-0 −100.00%
Friars Point, 13-0 − 100.00%
Marks, 13-0 −100.00%
Lambert, 10-1 − 90.91%
Mt Olivet, 31-0 − 100.00%
Terza, 11-0 − 100.00%
Rice Chapel, 9-0 − 100.00%
Early Grove, 11-0 − 100.00%
Sardis, 72-7 − 91.14%
Senatobia, 131-2 − 98.50%
Water Valley, 38-3 −92.68%
Water Valley: North Main, 15-0 − 100.00%
Starkville District
Ackerman, 27-5 − 84.38%
South Union, 16-0 −100.00%
Artesia, 19-0 − 100.00%
Cedar Bluff, 10-0 − 100.00%
Siloam, 9-0 −100.00%
Columbus: Covenant, 24-1 − 96.00%
Columbus First, 223-107 − 67.58%
Piney Grove Columbus, 36-1 − 97.30%
Longview, 14-0 − 100.00%
McAdams, 6-0 −100.00%
Middleton, 12-0 − 100.00%
Vernon ,10-0 − 100.00%
Mt Pisgah, 12-0 − 100.00%
Shuqualak, 10-0 −100.00%
Weir Salem, 6-0 − 100.00%
Campground Louisville, 21-0 −100.00%
Flower Ridge, 26-1 −96.30%
Rocky Hill, 23-0 −100.00%
Pleasant Hill UMC, 13-0− 100.00%
Tupelo District
Amory, 120-2 − 98.36%
Amory St Andrew's, 81-2− 97.59%
Carolina, 7-0 − 100.00%
Ecru, 8-0 − 100.00%
Fulton ,144-51− 73.85%
Houston, 82-11 − 88.17%
Buena Vista, 8-0 − 100.00%
McCondy, 11-0 − 100.00%
Nettleton First, 52-1 −98.11%
Shiloh, 12-0 − 100.00%
Plantersville, 8-0 −100.00%
Saltillo, 198-3 − 98.51%
Hebron UMC, 11-0 − 100.00%
Smithville, 9-0 − 100.00%
Thaxton, 23-0 − 100.00%
Palmetto, 21-0 − 100.00%
Tranquil, 20-0 − 100.00%
West Jackson District
Benton, 26-0 − 100.00%
Midway, 22-0 − 100.00%
Ellison, 64-0 − 100.00%
Fletcher Chapel, 29-0 −100.00%
Holly Bluff, 9-0 −100.00%
MT Olivet, 20-0 −100.00%
Raymond, 78-1 −98.73%
Learned, 6-0 − 100.00%
Redwood, 16-0 −100.00%
Eagle Lake, 8-0 −100.00%
Porters Chapel, 34-8 − 80.95%
Yazoo City, 147-21 − 87.50%
Ross Reily can be reached by email at rreily@gannett.com or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter @GreenOkra1.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: United Methodist Churches to vote on allowing MS sites to leave group
