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June 21, 2026

Georgia Methodist Conferences Move Toward Historic Merger

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Methodist churches in North Georgia and South Georgia have taken a major step toward forming one statewide conference.

The North Georgia Annual Conference approved a proposal this week to merge with the South Georgia Annual Conference, voting 96 percent to 4 percent in favor of the plan during its annual meeting in Athens. Earlier this month, the South Georgia Annual Conference also approved the same Unification Plan, with 96.6 percent voting in favor.

The proposal would create the Georgia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, bringing both conferences together under one statewide structure.

Church leaders say the vote marks an important step, but the merger is not yet final. The Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference must still decide whether to hold a special virtual session in August 2026 to consider the proposal.

If approved, Bishop Robin Dease would call a joint special session of both annual conferences in September to help prepare for the transition. Under the current proposal, the new Georgia Annual Conference would officially begin on January 1, 2027.

A worship and celebration service is planned for January 2027, with the first session of the newly unified Georgia Annual Conference scheduled for June 2027 in Athens.

November 23, 2025

by WZQZ NEWS

National Decline in Denominational Christianity Reflected in Georgia and Chattooga County

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Recent national studies show that denominational Christianity in the United States continues to decline, with fewer Americans identifying with long-established church bodies. While Christianity remains the majority faith tradition, surveys indicate that the number of adults affiliating with a specific denomination has steadily dropped over the past decade.