United Methodist leaders in Alabama say that insurance will cover most of the cost of legal battles that the denomination is involved with, as the Alabama-West Florida Conference resists efforts of churches hoping to leave the denomination and take their property with them.

“Our conference is currently engaged in several legal proceedings to protect the property rights of The United Methodist Church,” said a statement released this month by Bishop Jonathan Holston, co-signed by board of trustees president the Rev. Emily Kincaid and cabinet dean the Rev. Jean Tippit, of the Alabama-West Florida Conference.

“These efforts are vital to ensuring that the resources entrusted to us remain aligned with the purpose for which they were given: to serve Christ’s mission and ministry in our communities and beyond,” they wrote. “In doing so, we reaffirm our commitment to the faithful stewardship of all that God has placed in our care.”

The letter then addressed the financial impact of legal battles with congregations that want to leave.

“Thanks to the prudent planning and foresight of those who have come before us, insurance is covering the majority of our legal costs,” they wrote. “Still, we are diligently working to minimize the financial impact of these legal proceedings while upholding the principles and mission of The United Methodist Church.”

The legal bills for the more than a dozen lawsuits the conference is involved in across numerous counties in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle could be substantial.

“We encourage you to communicate openly with your congregation about the importance of these efforts and the conference’s commitment to transparency and good stewardship,” the bishop and the other clergy leaders wrote. “We know you appreciate the challenge of financial management during this time of uncertainty, and we thank you for your faithful leadership and your stewardship of all that God has provided for your congregations and communities.”

After quoting Paul’s letter to the Corinthians to be “steadfast, immovable,” the United Methodist leaders asked for prayer amidst the legal wrangling.

“Please join us in prayer for wisdom, justice, and peace throughout these proceedings,” they wrote. “Pray for all parties involved, that our actions may reflect the love and grace of Christ in all that we do.”

In the most recent lawsuit, Butler Methodist Church in Choctaw County sued the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church on Jan. 23, asking for a jury trial to establish that the church property is owned by the congregation and not the denomination.

The lawsuit was filed in Choctaw County Circuit Court, and is the latest salvo in an ongoing legal battle between the United Methodist Church and congregations declaring their independence from it.

The congregation, with property at 511 South Mulberry in Butler, in western Alabama southwest of Demopolis, has been in that location since at least 1948, the lawsuit said.

In addition to being sued in numerous cases, the Alabama-West Florida Conference has also sued churches that tried to leave without following procedures set by the denomination.

The United Methodist Church filed a lawsuit on Nov. 21 against a breakaway beach church that dropped UMC affiliation from its charter but kept two appointed clergy on staff and banned denominational officials from setting foot on the campus popular with Gulf Coast residents and tourists.

The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church filed a lawsuit against Perdido Bay Methodist Church, challenging the amendment to its incorporation documents that declare it is no longer affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

Perdido Bay Methodist was one of more than 40 churches in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle whose requests to leave the denomination were stalled before the Dec. 31, 2023, disaffiliation deadline. Paragraph 2553, a special provision allowing disaffiliation due to disagreement over issues such as gay marriage, expired at that point.

The United Methodist General Conference voted in May 2024 to reverse its longstanding bans on gay marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy.

Churches that were not allowed to leave have adopted a new tactic: either suing the conference, saying the church property belongs to the congregation, not the denomination, or simply voting to change the church’s legal documents that have any mention of the United Methodist Church.