By Chuck Allen
Pastor, Sugar Hill Church
SUGAR HILL, Ga. | The United Methodist Church (UMC) has fractured. More than 7,000 congregations, representing roughly a quarter of the denomination, have disaffiliated from the church since 2019, culminating in the formation of the Global Methodist Church (GMC). This division reflects the nation’s own cultural and political divides.
Here in Gwinnett, it has been a flashpoint for multiple congregations. Three longstanding pillars of Gwinnett’s Methodist community, Norcross First, Sugar Hill First and Lawrenceville First churches, wound up on different sides of the aisle. All three experienced the schisms that the international debate created. All remain steadfast in their service to their congregations and communities.
- Norcross: joined the Global Methodist Church;
- Sugar Hill: is now the independent Church on the Hill.
- Lawrenceville First: remains in the North Georgia Conference.
There are flashpoints: the heart of the split are irreconcilable differences over the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people, whether to ordain LGBTQ+ clergy, and bless same-sex marriages. Traditionalists, now largely aligned with the Global Methodist Church, argue that biblical fidelity demands upholding bans on same-sex marriage and non-celibate gay clergy. Progressives, who remain in the United Methodist Church, contend that the gospel’s call to radical welcome requires full inclusion.
But it isn’t that simple. Property rights, debt, church leadership, denominational politics, and financial stability were also at play. Norcross First Global, Church on the Hill, and Lawrenceville First United are filled with well-meaning, God-honoring people caught in a tidal wave of culture upheaval.
The 2024 General Conference, where the UMC finally voted to end its longstanding anti-LGBTQ policies, marked a watershed moment.
Lawrenceville First United remains connected to the UMC and is an extraordinary church, with great leadership and a long history of community impact. Norcross First Global is also an example of a gracious, loving church that chose to serve its congregation well. Church on the Hill gracefully serves its community and has decided to disaffiliate. When on the Church on the Hill site or campus, you must search deeply for the connection to United Methodists or Global Methodists. This may be helping this rapidly growing congregation.
Money gets involved, as well. Some churches have large debts and valuable properties, while others are small, country churches with little debt or assets. According to the United Methodist newspaper, Gwinnett followed the statistics of the North Georgia Conference, with 38 percent of its churches disaffiliating with the United Methodist Conference.
For many Methodists, the split has been deeply personal. Pastors and parishioners describe feelings of betrayal, grief, and exhaustion. Some congregations have paid steep financial costs to retain their property.
Yet, amid the turmoil, some departing and remaining churches report a renewed sense of purpose and clarity. The three Gwinnett churches mentioned are healthy in their cultural application. They serve and care in a way that makes sense. For the people they serve, most don’t care one way or another. They appreciate being loved and cared for, period.
I think we can all be grateful that churches, while imperfect, can help heal our fractured society. Lawrenceville UMC is an essential part of serving Lawrenceville. Norcross GMC is a mission-minded church that continues to serve its community. Church on the Hill, in Sugar Hill, is disaffiliated and serves its community beautifully. That, friends, is far more significant than what separates us.
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