South Jersey churches suing to leave Methodist conference; here’s why
BRIDGETON — Several United Methodist churches in South Jersey who disagree with new, progressive policies on same-sex marriages and gay clergy say the state conference is making it too difficult to leave the denomination.
Those churches are now asking a state court to force the New Jersey Conference of the United Methodist Church to “let them go,” according to one of their attorneys.
The litigation reflects ongoing fallout from a theological schism, after the conference in 2019 officially embraced policies strongly encouraging member churches to be “in ministry with and by LGBTQ people,” including same-gender marriage and gay and lesbian clergy.
The lawsuit states the conference, headquartered in Neptune Township, set up a process purporting to offer an equitable way for dissenting churches to “disaffiliate.”
But, the suit claims, the terms dictated by the conference leadership actually set up a deliberately distorted and financially punitive disaffiliation process to prevent churches from leaving with their properties.
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The plaintiff churches are: St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, in Pennsauken Township; Trinity United Methodist Church of Clayton Borough; First United Methodist Church of Collingswood; Brooklawn United Methodist Church; Buckshutem United Methodist Church, in Commercial Township; Olivet United Methodist Church, in Pittsgrove Township; and Mauricetown United Methodist Church, also in Commercial.
The lawsuit was filed Jan. 23 in Cumberland County Superior Court. The churches are represented by Vineland attorney Justin White, of Testa Heck Testa & White P.A., and the National Center for Life & Liberty. The center, based in Florida, pursues similar litigation around the nation and describes itself as a “legal ministry.”
Attorney David Gibbs III, also the founder of the center, said the local churches reached out to him for legal aid in the dispute after trying to comply with the conference rules.
The local churches just have “lost confidence” in the conference and its leaders to help them in their mission, he said.
“It is unfortunate that the Conference does not let them leave in a spirit of grace and keep their church properties, properties that were paid for by the local churches,” Gibbs said. “The behavior of the United Methodist church toward its local churches is one of the reasons why Americans are losing confidence in denominations to do the right thing.”
N.J. Methodist Conference says it is treating dissenters fairly
The lawsuit is not officially served on the conference. The Rev. James Lee, its communications director, responded to the case including a statement from Bishop John Shol.
“Because of unique difference over human sexuality and the inclusion of LGBTQ persons in the life and ministry of the church, the denomination in 2019 offered churches an option to leave with their personal and real property if they paid for any past pension and mission obligations that the church might owe plus one additional year,” Lee answered.
“All churches were given the opportunity to enter into a process and vote by December 31, 2023,” Lee stated. “The churches in the lawsuit either did not participate in the process or did not achieve the required 2/3s vote among their congregation members to leave.”
Lee added that eight churches in New Jersey have disaffiliated under the conference protocol.
Schol stated he has “a heavy heart” over the situation. “We have already pledged that we will honor theological differences among all congregations in making appointments and in working with every congregation, he stated.
Gibbs said several of his client churches went through the process, including successful member votes, only to be told they had not qualified. “And so, you know the litigation is really (about) ‘let these congregations that have paid for their property, and you owe a fiduciary duty to them, let them go,’” he said.
Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.
Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com. Support local journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: South Jersey churches at odds with Methodists over LGBTQ policies
