27 United Methodist Churches Close in South Alabama and Florida Panhandle

The Alabama‑West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church voted to close 27 United Methodist churches across south Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. The decision was effective immediately, and all properties reverted to the Conference Board of Trustees.

The decision came at the Conference’s annual meeting at First United Methodist Church in Pensacola on June 10.

Rev. Jean Tippit, Director of New Ministry Strategies and Panhandle District Superintendent, announced the resolution through tears near the end of the afternoon business session. Bishop Jonathan Holston, who oversees the region, described the move as “a solemn moment.”

“It’s always a solemn moment to have places (closed) where babies were baptized,” Bishop Holston said. “People were confirmed… had their funerals there… children playing on the ground.”

Among the six churches in the Wiregrass area set to close are:

• Center Ridge (Coffee Springs)
• Sardis (Hartford)
• Epworth (Eufaula)
• Williams Chapel (Brundidge)
• Memorial Church (Covington County, AL)
• Friendship Church (Jackson County, FL)

The remaining 21 slated for closure span a number of Counties, including Choctaw, Hale, Lee, Mobile, Montgomery, Washington, Elmore, Butler, Russell, Baldwin, Bullock, and Escambia:

• Pleasant Hill in Choctaw County
• Mt. Herman in Hale County
• Mt. Carmel in Hale County
• Ramsey’s Chapel in Hale County
• Liberty in Hale County
• Pleasant Valley in Hale County
• China Grove in Hale County
• Morris Chapel in Lee County
• Irvington in Mobile County
• Aldersgate in Montgomery County
• Minerva in Washington County
• Trinity Weoka in Elmore County
• Greenville First in Butler County
• Trinity in Russell County
• Guy’s Chapel in Baldwin County
• Fitzpatrick in Bullock County
• Loachapoka in Lee County
• Whitfield Memorial in Montgomery County
• Butler First in Choctaw County
• Flomaton in Escambia County
• McRae Street in Escambia County

Among the reasons cited for the closures were alarmingly small or declining membership numbers, and ongoing property disputes—many over congregations disaffiliating following the UMC’s updated positions on LGBTQ+ inclusion.

This wave of closures follows a similar move last week by the North Alabama Conference, which approved the shutdown of 20 congregations in North and Central Alabama during their annual session at Asbury UMC in Birmingham. Secretary of the Cabinet Rev. Vicki Cater presented a resolution listing churches in Oak Grove-Childersburg, Moulton First, Walker Chapel and others across the East, Mid-Central, North, and West districts. This move continues a pattern of consolidations across the denomination following declining membership and recent denominational splits prompted by disagreements over LGBTQ+ inclusion.

The full list of closures, by District:

• East District
  • Jubilee
  • Oak Grove-Childersburg
  • Rehobeth
  • Trinity
• Mid-Central District
  • Christ Central
  • Langston
  • Mt. Oak
  • Tucker's Chapel
• North District
  • Courtland
  • Hollywood
  • Isom's Chapel
  • Moulton First
  • the Table
• West District
  • Cahaba
  • Cottondale
  • Discovery
  • Restoration Mission
  • Walker Chapel
  • Woodstock

The North Alabama Conference closures came amid an otherwise spirited conference gathering—marked by new clergy ordinations, disaster-response initiatives, and programs like “Moving Forward Together” aimed at supporting congregations affected by disaffiliation. Moving Forward Together offers pastoral and logistical support for churches seeking to remain within the UMC, including online worship options and membership transfers. These actions reflect the Conference’s dual goals: preserving local church ministries while realigning resources in the wake of organizational shifts.

Since the Public Announcement, several affected Alabama-West Florida Conference congregations—including Center Ridge, Sardis, and Epworth—report they are reorganizing independently, rejecting the closure decision in statements to media outlets and on social platforms.

For those congregations slated for closure, all closed church properties now belong to the Conference’s Board of Trustees. While some churches will remain open without UMC affiliation, others face permanent shutdown.

These closures are part of a national trend. In May 2024, the UMC General Conference approved removing bans on same‑sex marriage and gay clergy, sparking widespread local contention and disaffiliation.

Members of closing churches may wish to reach out to their Conference office to learn whether your church is being reorganized. Some congregations are expected to continue meeting, while others will cease operations entirely. Some local groups may shift to different denominational affiliations or become independent fellowships.

These closures represent a time of significant change for United Methodists across Alabama. As the Conferences realign resources, communities mourn the loss of long‑standing local churches.