North Georgia Annual Conference

Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church has filed a counterclaim in response to a lawsuit by North Georgia Conference trustees. The legal dispute deals with property. Photo by Wendy Parker, East Cobb News.

Mt. Bethel countersues conference leaders

Attorneys for Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church argue that the North Georgia Conference is blocking the congregation’s efforts to disaffiliate.

Local Church

The North Georgia Conference is suing Mt. Bethel Church after attempts at mediation failed. The suit is seeking that the court require the transfer of all assets to the conference. Photo by Wendy Parker, East Cobb News.

Conference sues for control of megachurch

After a failed attempt at mediation, the North Georgia Conference trustees have sued Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church seeking the transfer of assets.

Local Church

Rustin Parsons, co-lay leader for the congregation of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta, Ga., announces that the church is beginning the process of disaffiliating from denomination during an April 26 press conference. Amid a continued fight over who should be the church’s pastor, the North Georgia Conference announced late July 12 that it was assuming management of the congregation’s assets. Screenshot of livestream by UM News, courtesy of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church.

Conference assumes management of megachurch

Amid continued strife over a new pastoral appointment, North Georgia Conference leaders voted to transfer Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church assets to conference trustees’ oversight.

General Church

An excerpt from the full-page ad placed in the May 9 issue of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution by a group of North Georgia Conference laity. The ad was an open letter to Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson seeking answers around the appointment dispute at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, LGBTQ inclusion and the future of the church. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Georgia group questions bishop in full-page ad

The advertisement in the Sunday Atlanta Journal-Constitution seeks transparency from the North Georgia bishop on disputes around a pastoral appointment, LGBTQ inclusion and the future of the church.

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