AC closes two churches, approves several charge line changes

By Allison Trussell

FLORENCE—The South Carolina Annual Conference remembered two churches during the final business session June 7. Zion United Methodist Church, Walhalla, and Wilkes Chapel UMC, Hartsville District, were both closed during the past year.

The Rev. Cathy Jamieson, Cabinet secretary, reminded the body of the importance of growing and planting seeds, recalling the upcoming lectionary reading, the Parable of the Mustard Seed.

“We reflect and thank God for the pastors who served these churches and the members and the seeds that were planted.”

Bishop Jonathan Holston offered words of encouragement and invited those present and those at home with connections to the churches to stand as he prayed.

“We are grateful for the life you give us and thankful for the places of faith to come to know you more intimately in our lives. … We have come to know you through the ministries of these congregations … [where] our faith was emboldened, our hearts were warmed, our lives made better.”

Zion’s resolution of closure was approved by the cabinet April 21. Wilkes Chapel’s resolution of closure was approved by the cabinet May 20.

In addition to the church closures, there were a number of charge line changes throughout the conference approved by the body. In the Anderson District, the Hopewell-Zion Charge was dissolved, and Hopewell became a station church.

The Mill Creek-McLeod Charge in the Columbia District was dissolved with both churches becoming station churches.

The Florence District had two changes. The Jeremiah-Mount Seal Charge was dissolved with both churches becoming station churches. Ebenezer and First Hemingway were attached to form the Ebenezer-First, Hemingway Charge.

Trinity, Gray Court, in the Greenville District was moved to the Greenwood District.

Greenwood District had three line changes. Central, Laurens, and Trinity, Gray Court, were attached to form the Central-Trinity Charge. Mount Pleasant and O’Neal Street churches were attached to form the Mount Pleasant-O’Neal Street Charge. The Greenwood-Ninety Six Charge was dissolved. Three of those churches—Mays, Crossroads and Martha’s Chapel—were attached to form the Crossroads-Martha’s Chapel-Mays Charge. The fourth church on the original charge, Trinity, Greenwood, became a station church.

In the Marion District, First, Loris, and Zoan were attached to form the First, Loris-Zoan Charge.

The Target-Gerizim Charge and Eutawville were attached to form the Eutaw Circuit in the Orangeburg District.

The Bethel-Philadelphia Charge, Rock Hill District, was dissolved, with both churches becoming station churches.

Spartanburg District had four changes. Inman and Aldersgate were attached to form the Inman Charge. Trinity, Gaffney, and Limestone Street were attached to form the Gaffney Charge. The Skylyn-Arcadia Charge was dissolved with both churches becoming station churches. Buffalo was attached to Sardis to form the Buffalo-Sardis Charge.

In the Walterboro District, the St. George Parish dissolved. Shady Grove became a station church, and St. Mark and Trinity remained as the St. George Parish Charge.