New era to begin May 28 for Friendship Methodist Church

On Sunday March 26th the congregation of Friendship United Methodist Church made the overwhelming decision to leave the United Methodist Church and join the newly formed Global Methodist Church. This was not a decision made lightly and involved a lengthy discernment process. Through the process it was revealed that the current direction of the United Methodist Church did not reflect the beliefs of the local congregation. The congregation desired to be a part of a denomination that was more in line with a traditional understanding of Biblical authority and values. 

On Sunday, May 21 the South Georgia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church held a called special session for the purpose of processing current requests from local congregations for disaffiliation. Friendship Methodist Church was one of 194 churches to seek dissaffiliation from the United Methodist Church in South Georgia. 

Friendship Methodist Church was originally founded in 1850 as one of the first churches to serve the community. In 1968 through a denominational merger it became a United Methodist Church. Over the past 55 years the church has been led by many great servants of God, pastors who dedicated themselves to loving the congregation and the community. 

Pastor Nate Lehman commented, “We are thankful for their leadership and their legacy will continue.”

 The congregation will worship for the first time as Friendship Methodist Church on Sunday May 28th at 9:00 and 11:00.