Faith
Alabama Church Secures Property Victory After Leaving United Methodist Church
Faith Facts
- Harvest Church in Dothan won sole ownership of its property after disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church.
- The court rejected the denomination’s claim under a trust clause and found no binding property agreement.
- The ruling comes amid a broader wave of congregations leaving the UMC over doctrine and church governance.
A significant legal victory for religious liberty has emerged in Alabama. Harvest Church in Dothan secured sole ownership of its property after leaving the United Methodist Church.
Judge Christopher K. Richardson ruled that the denomination held no legal claim to the church’s assets. The court also rejected the UMC’s effort to enforce a trust clause.
The dispute reflects a larger national movement of congregations departing the UMC over marriage and clergy standards. These churches say they are preserving biblical conviction and local control.
This ruling reaffirms that civil courts can protect the property rights of local ministries using neutral legal principles. May we pray for these congregations as they continue to labor for the Gospel, free from denominations that have strayed from the Word of God.