Which churches in Eastern NC are leaving United Methodist conference over LGBTQ issues?
In November, the N.C. Conference of the United Methodist Church approved disaffiliation requests by 249 of its churches, clearing the way for those congregations to join the Global Methodist Church or some other denomination, or to become non-denominational.
Churches leaving the denomination say they are driven by a progressive movement among United Methodists in the United States, especially as it pertains to the church’s willingness to ordain gay and lesbian clergy members and conduct same-sex weddings. The Global Methodist Church, where many of the churches will be going, takes a more conservative view on LGBTQ issues.
The N.C Conference serves roughly half the state, from Alamance County east to the coast.
In the Western Conference, which covers the other half of North Carolina, 41 churches have disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church since 2019, and 16 more have begun the process.
More churches are expected to disaffiliate in both conferences across the state before the end of 2023.
Here are the churches in the eastern part of the state that have so far been approved to leave the denomination, listed alphabetically by city or town.
Albertson: Woodland
Arapahoe: Arapahoe
Aurora: Campbell’s Creek
Autryville: Bethabara, Halls
Bailey: Bailey, Pleasant Grove, Mt. Pleasant
Bear Creek: Meroney
Beaufort: North River, Straits, Tuttle’s Grove
Belgrade: Belgrade
Belhaven: Trinity
Benson: Benson, Elevation
Biscoe: Page Memorial
Blounts Creek: Warren Chapel
Bogue: Bethlehem
Boiling Spring Lakes: Old Dock
Bolton: Shiloh
Broadway: Cool Springs
Burgaw: Herring’s Chapel, Westview
Burlington: Carr, Friendship, St. Luke’s, St. Paul’s
Butner: Community
Calabash: Andrews Chapel
Camden: Camden
Candor: Parsons Grove
Carthage: Mt. Carmel
Cedar Island: Cedar Island, Sea Level
Cerro Gordo: Cerro Gordo
Chapel Hill: Orange Chapel
Clarendon: Bethel, Lebanon
Clinton: Coharie, Epworth, First, Keener
Coats: Coats
Conetoe: Conetoe
Conway: Bethany, Conway, Zion
Creswell: Mt. Hermon
Dover: Lane’s Chapel
Dublin: Singletary
Duck: Duck
Dudley: Brogden
Dunn: Black’s Chapel, Leslie, Maple Grove
Eastover: Salem
Elizabethtown: Purdie, Trinity, Windsor
Ellerbe: Mt. Pleasant
Elm City: Elm City
Englehard: Watson’s Chapel
Eureka: Eureka
Evergreen: Evergreen
Fair Bluff: Fair Bluff
Fairmont: Trinity
Faison: Faison
Farmville: Farmville
Fayetteville: Cumberland, Gardners, Tabor
Four Oaks: Corinth
Fremont: Yelverton
Garner: Mt. Zion
Godwin: Wesley Chapel
Goldsboro: New Hope, Providence, Saulston, St. Paul, Daniels Memorial, Falling Creek
Goldston: Goldston
Harkers Island: Harkers Island
Harrells: Centenary
Harrellsville: Harrellsville
Havelock: First
Haw River: Phillips Chapel, Salem
Henderson: Cokesbury, Hermon, Marrow’s Chapel, Shocco
Hertford: New Hope, Woodland
Hobgood: Hobgood
Hookerton: Hookerton
Hurdle Mills: Mt. Zion
Inez: Lake Waccamaw Heritage Shady Grove
Jackson: Jackson, Rehoboth
Jacksonville: Trinity, Verona
Jamesville: Jamesville, Siloam
Kelly: Trinity
Kenansville: Kenansville
Kenly: Buckhorn, Fellowship, Kenly
Kinston: Shady Grove, Woodington
La Grange: Beston, Bethel, Garris Chapel
Laurel Hill: Beaver Dam
Laurinburg: Central
Littleton: Calvary, Corinth, Tabor, Weaver’s Chapel
Lizzie: Mt. Herman
Louisburg: Shiloh
Lucama: Lucama
Lumberton: Chestnut Street, Collins Chapel
Macon: Macon
Magnolia: Magnolia, Trinity
Manns Harbor: Mt. Carmel
Margarettsville: Sharon
Maury: Brooks Frizzelle
Maysville: Maysville, Tabernacle
Mebane: Hebron
Merrimon: Merrimon
Middleburg: Middleburg
Morehead City: Broad Creek, First, Franklin Memorial
Mt. Olive: Bethel, Brownings, Rones Chapel, Smith Chapel, Zion
Nakina: Bethesda
Nashville: Nashville, White Oak
New Bern: Beech Grove, Faith, Garber, Reelsboro, Rhems
Newport: Core Creek
Newton Grove: Newton Grove, Goshen
Norlina: Zion
Oriental: Pamlico
Parkton: Parkton
Pembroke: Sandy Plains
Pikeville: St. Joseph, Mt. Carmel
Pink Hill: Sarecta
Pittsboro: Hickory Mountain, Sapling Ridge
Pleasant Hill: Concord
Pollocksville: Lee’s Chapel
Powellsville: Powellsville
Raleigh: Asbury, Hollands, Layden Memorial
Red Springs: New Philadelphus
Reidsville: Camp Springs
Richlands: Haw Branch, Richlands
Riegelwood: Wesley
Roanoke Rapids: Hawkins Chapel, Smith
Robbins: Bascom Chapel, Smyrna
Rockingham: First, Roberdell, St. Paul, West Rockingham
Rocky Point: Rocky Point
Roseboro: Beulah, Roseboro
Roxboro: Concord, Oak Grove, Warren’s Grove
Rowland: Beauty Spot
Salter Path: Salter Path
Salvo: Clarks Bethel
Sanford: Cumnock Union
Scranton: Epworth
Seaboard: Pleasant Grove, Seaboard
Seven Springs: Seven Springs
Severn: Severn
Shiloh: Wesley
Siler City: Mt. Vernon, Piney Grove, West End
Sims: Sims
Snow Camp: Center
Snow Hill: Jerusalem
South Mills: McBride, Sharon, Trinity
Stacy: Stacy
Stedman: Bethany, Cokesbury
Stella: Midway
Stem: Stem
Stonewall: Stonewall
Supply: Sharon
Swan Quarter: Fairfield, Soule
Townsville: Tabernacle
Trenton: Cypress Creek, Trenton
Troy: First, Love Joy, Macedonia, Ophir, Uwharrie
Vanceboro: Epworth, Vanceboro
Walstonburg: Tabernacle
Wanchese: Bethany
Warrenton: Jerusalem, Providence, Warren Plains
Warsaw: Unity
Washington: Asbury, First
Watha: Watha
Whitaker: Speight’s Chapel
Whiteville: Mishop Springs, Peace
Williamston: Vernon
Williston: Williston
Wilmington: Pine Valley
Wilson: Hornes
Wilton: Banks
Windsor: Windsor
Winterville: Covenant (Two campuses)
Woodland: Woodland
