Two Georgia Methodist Conferences Unite After Pandemic and Denominational Exodus

Faith Facts

• The United Methodist Church’s North Georgia and South Georgia conferences are merging following membership losses from COVID-19 and denominational divisions over biblical authority.
• The combined conference will serve approximately 1,000 churches and 285,000 members across Georgia, representing a consolidation strategy amid declining numbers.
• The UMC has lost over 7,000 congregations since 2019, primarily over disputes regarding biblical teachings on marriage and sexuality.

Two regional bodies of The United Methodist Church in Georgia are combining forces in response to significant membership losses following the COVID-19 pandemic and the denomination’s recent division over biblical interpretation. The North Georgia and South Georgia conferences announced their merger, creating a single unified entity to serve Methodist congregations across the state.

The consolidation comes as the UMC continues to grapple with the aftermath of one of the largest denominational splits in American religious history. Since 2019, more than 7,000 congregations have departed the UMC, with most leaving over disagreements regarding the denomination’s stance on marriage and human sexuality.

The merged Georgia conference will oversee approximately 1,000 churches and serve around 285,000 members throughout the state. Church leaders presented the merger as a strategic response to changing circumstances and declining membership numbers that have affected mainline Protestant denominations across the nation.

The pandemic accelerated trends that were already challenging traditional denominations, with many churches experiencing decreased attendance and financial strain. For the UMC specifically, these challenges compounded existing theological tensions that ultimately resulted in thousands of congregations choosing to disaffiliate.

Most departing churches joined the Global Methodist Church, a new denomination formed to maintain traditional biblical teachings on marriage as the union between one man and one woman. The exodus represented a significant realignment within American Methodism, with theologically conservative congregations seeking to preserve historic Christian doctrine.

The Georgia merger reflects broader restructuring efforts within the remaining UMC as the denomination adapts to its new reality. Conference consolidations aim to reduce administrative costs and streamline operations in the wake of substantial membership losses.

For many conservative Christians, the UMC’s struggles illustrate the consequences of departing from biblical authority on matters of faith and practice. The denomination’s decision to allow more progressive interpretations of Scripture on marriage and sexuality prompted the largest wave of departures in recent American religious history.

The combined Georgia conference will need to navigate ongoing challenges including financial pressures, demographic shifts, and continued theological divisions within the remaining membership. Church observers note that mainline Protestant denominations face an uncertain future as cultural Christianity wanes and biblical fidelity becomes increasingly central to church growth and vitality.

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