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Annual Conference closes three churches and changes 36 charge lines

Pictured, the Rev. Fran Elrod, secretary of the Cabinet, presented three United Methodist churches for closure during Annual Conference. Photo by Matt Brodie.

By Allison Trussell

FLORENCE—In one of the more somber events of this year’s Annual Conference, the body closed three churches and changed 36 charge lines.

The Rev. Fran Elrod, secretary of the Cabinet, presented three United Methodist churches for closure during the Wednesday morning business session, June 7.

“This decision is both solemn and celebratory,” Elrod said. “We mourn the closure, but celebrate the faithfulness of the congregations.”

Lockhart UMC, Union, in the Spartanburg District will close June 18 according to the resolution presented.

Samuel Webber, delegate from Lockhart-Wesley Chapel Charge, asked for a moment of personal privilege and offered a brief history of the church. His grandfather was chairman of the trustees when the church was opened, and his name, Samuel Pinckney Webber III, will be on the closing paperwork.

“It’s been an honor to represent the church,” he said.

Unity UMC, Union, in the Spartanburg District, is also closing. Its pastor, the Rev. Mary Nichols, commended the people who have paid 100 percent apportionments despite their small numbers and continue to be active in the conference and the district.

The last church was Bowers Chapel UMC, Florence, in the Florence District, whose resolution was approved in September 2022 and confirmed by the conference.

Members and friends of the three churches were invited to stand as the Bishop Jonathan Holston offered a prayer: “Gracious Lord, we recognize the legacy of your grace and mercy goes far beyond what we can imagine. … We celebrate the legacy of these churches and what they represent as part of the fabric of our Christian faith. As we consider what we are doing, we honor the pastors and laity who made these churches whole.”

36 charge line changes

Elrod also presented multiple charge line changes to Annual Conference delegates.

Those changes were approved during the Wednesday morning business session with no discussion or debate.

In the Anderson District, the Chiquola-Donalds Charge was dissolved. Chiquola became a station church, and Donalds was attached to Trinity, Honea Path, to form the Trinity-Honea Path Charge.

The Florence District had the most changes with 11.

The Elijah-St. Luke Charge was dissolved, with both churches becoming station churches.

The Liberty-Friendship Charge was dissolved; both churches became station churches.

The Pamplico-Prospect Charge was dissolved, with both churches becoming station churches.

The Cades-Cameron Charge was dissolved, with both churches becoming station churches.

The Ebenezer-First Charge was dissolved; both churches became station churches.

The Kingstree Circuit was dissolved, making Cedar Swamp and Millwood station churches.

The New Zion Charge was dissolved. New Zion and Trinity became station churches.

The Pine Grove-Salem Charge was dissolved with both churches become station churches.

The Trio Charge was dissolved. Trio, Earle and Sutton became station churches.

The Turbeville Charge was dissolved. Pine Grove and Shiloh became station churches.

Bowers Chapel was closed ad interim Sept. 15, 2022.

The Greenville District had two changes. The Bramlett Charge was dissolved, making Bramlett and Gray Court station churches; and the St. John-McBee Charge was dissolved, making both churches station churches.

In the Hartsville District, four charge line changes were approved.

The Kellybell-Sandy Bluff Charge was dissolved, making both churches station churches.

The Mount Beulah-New Hope Charge was dissolved, making both churches station churches.

The Oswego Circuit was dissolved. Clark became a station church, and Mount Moriah and St. Mark will continue as the Oswego Circuit.

The New Market-Tabernacle Charge was dissolved. Tabernacle was removed from the Darlington Cooperative Parish and made a station church, and New Market was made a station church.

In the Marion District, three changes occurred.

The Bethel-Ebenezer Charge was dissolved, making both churches station churches.

The Shiloh-Smyrna Charge was dissolved, making both churches station churches.

The Marlboro Circuit was dissolved, with New Hope and Oak Grove becoming station churches.

Three changes were approved in the Orangeburg District.

The Orange Circuit was dissolved. Ebenezer becomes a station church, and North
was attached to Trinity to form the North Circuit.

The Trinity-Limestone Charge was dissolved. Limestone became a station church, and Trinity was attached to North to form the North Circuit.

The Rowesville Charge was dissolved, making Cattle Creek and Bethel station churches.

Five changes were approved in the Rock Hill District.

The Bethel-Armenia Charge was dissolved; both churches become station churches.

The Chester Circuit was dissolved; Capers Chapel, New Hope and Wesley Memorial were made station churches.

The Hickory Grove Charge was dissolved; Canaan and Mount Vernon become station churches.

The Tabernacle and Bethel Charge was dissolved with both churches becoming station churches.

The Catawba-El Bethel Charge was dissolved with both churches becoming station churches.

Spartanburg District had four changes.

The Ben Avon-Roebuck Charge was dissolved; both churches were made station churches.

The Whitmire-Carlisle Charge was dissolved with both churches becoming station churches.

The Lockhart-Wesley Charge was dissolved. Lockhart was closed effective June 18, 2023, and Wesley Chapel becomes a station church.

Unity was closed.

In the Walterboro District, three changes were approved.

The Cottageville Charge was dissolved, making Rehoboth and Cottageville station churches.

The St. Paul-Tillman Charge was dissolved, making both churches station churches.

The Ridgeville Charge was dissolved, making Mount Tabor, Trinity and Cypress station churches.

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