A hearing has been set for June 6 on the dispute between First Methodist Church of Louisville and the Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
On May 30, the First Methodist Church of Louisville, Inc. and The Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church had reached an agreement that led to the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order by the Chancery Court of Winston County. Under Mississippi law, the Temporary Restraining Order can only remain in place for a maximum of 10 days. At that hearing both First Methodist and the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church will be allowed to present arguments relevant to the issues.
Earlier in the year 97 percent of the Church members attending a church conference affirmed their desire to leave the United Methodist denomination. Six members responded with plans to remain affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The Order places on hold all directives from the Bishop and District Superintendent that left most of the church’s membership having to find temporary space to hold its Sunday services on May 27. The restraining order allowed First Methodist to hold church services and events in the disputed church building for the June 3 services.
The Conference prior to the restraining order also removed the church’s pastor, Rev. Mike Childs, and gave him and his family 30 days to vacate the parsonage which is provided by the church. The conference has also indicated its plans to exercise the trust clause in relation to the church real estate and personal property including the church’s bank accounts and savings. The agreed upon order puts a hold on those actions.
According to court filings and members of the First Methodist Church, the members had for several months been pondering, as a matter of conscience, whether or not to remain affiliated with the United Methodist Church pertaining primarily with doctrinal issues. In the court documents, First Methodist Church denoted that other churches have withdrawn or are looking to withdraw from the Conference and with these prior departures the United Methodist Church and conference agreed to a payment of one year of support from the local church.
On March 25, United Methodist Starkville District Superintendent, Dr. Embra Jackson, called a church conference as provided for in the Discipline to resolve that issue. Members in attendance were asked to indicate by signed “membership affirmation” whether or not they wished to remain a member of First United Methodist Church or to withdraw their membership. And, if the later, they were asked to indicate where they wanted their membership transferred. The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church provides that persons wishing to vote at a church conference have to be present. Of those attending, 175 members chose to withdraw their membership and have it transferred to First Methodist Church of Louisville, Inc. (a non-profit church organized in 1961 and in good standing with the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office.) Six members chose to remain affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
Scott R. Hendrix, attorney for First Methodist, expressed his hopes that the Court will then convert the temporary order to a permanent injunction allowing the overwhelming majority of the church members to worship in the building they and their ancestors have paid for and built and to do so until formal litigation can resolve the dispute.
“There are numerous legal issues involved in this dispute and, before the congregants of First Methodist Church are displaced by the Conference, they deserve to have their day in court,” Hendrix said.
The Temporary Restraining Order does not resolve any of the issues on a permanent basis and the arguments presented by the church in seeking the restraining order represent only one side of the legal argument.
Hendrix added, “We hope that the order will continue beyond Sunday so that church members can celebrate weddings and funerals, operate its kindergarten, send its youth to summer camps, and all other church activities while the legal arguments regarding church assets are heard and decided by a court,”
Rev. Mike Childs said he is gratified by the support from not only Mississippians but from across the United States and even some foreign countries.
Childs added, “Churches from many different Christian denominations within our community have been so thoughtful to offer their facilities to us during these difficult days. Truly, the Christian community of Louisville and Winston County has been jarred by these manmade decisions. But our faith in Jesus Christ has not been compromised!”
All denominations and faiths Prayer Service set
A city wide prayer service has been set for Thursday, June 7 at 6 p.m. on the steps of First Methodist Church in Louisville following, by one day, this Wednesday’s scheduled hearing in the Chancery Court of Winston County.
At the hearing, First Methodist Church of Louisville will seek to have a Temporary Restraining Order issued by the Court last week expanded to a Preliminary and Permanent Injunction in its dispute with the Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. The Conference’s actions prompted an outpouring of support for the local church from across the local community as well as the State of Mississippi, the United States and several foreign countries. Last week’s Temporary Restraining Order allowed normal church activities to resume. The church has issued the following statement:
“Rev. Mike Childs and the members of First Methodist Church of Louisville, Inc., invite fellow Christian believers from all denominations and faiths to join them for a short prayer vigil on the Main Street steps of the church on Thursday, June 7 at 6 p.m. at which time they will call upon the Lord for his continued blessings and guidance in the days ahead. In the event of inclement weather, the vigil will be held in the sanctuary.”
