forLife&Liberty,whichalsoprovided TheChristianPostwithacopyofthe lawsuit. NCLLCFOJonathanBailietoldCP 106 inaninterviewthathebelieves"the paymentsthattheFloridaAnnual Florida churches sue Conferenceisrequiringthemtopayis inequitableandonerous." "Thereasonthelawsuitwasfiled UnitedMethodist wasthatthe106churchesbelievedthat theFloridaAnnualConferenceisnot Churchover beingequitableincreatingasplitthat they'reabletosuccessfullyministerin disaffiliation process thecommunitiesfortheGospel,"said Bailie. BYMICHAELGRYBOSKI "Thechurchesarefrustratedwith theannualconference'sviolationsof theBookofDisciplineandrefusalto honortheTraditionalPlanasoutlined inthe2019GeneralConference." Bailiewasreferringtothe2019 specialsessionoftheUMCGeneral Conference,whichpassedaproposal knownasthe"TraditionalPlan."The proposalreaffirmedthe denomination'soppositionto homosexualityandsame-sexmarriage ver100congregations andunappealable." whilealsoattemptingtostreamlinethe inFloridahavesueda Theplaintiffsalsocontendthatthe disaffiliationprocessfor OregionalbodyofThe UMCBookofDiscipline,whichisthe congregations. UnitedMethodist denomination'scentralrulebook, AFloridaConferencespokesperson Church,believingthey allowsforthemto"amicably directedCPtoanopenletterthat arenotbeinggivenfair disaffiliate,"citingSection2548.2. BishopKenCartersenttothe termsforleavingthesecond-largest GraceUnitedMethodistChurchof membersoftheregionalbody,inwhich denominationintheUnitedStates Lawtey,theleadplaintiff,believesit hesaidhewas"deeplygrievedby"the amiditsschismoverhomosexuality. shouldnothavetopaytosecureits lawsuit."Wehavebeentryingto Atotalof106congregationsfiled propertybecauseitpurchasedthe engagethosechurchesinthatprocess suitagainsttheUMCFloridaAnnual propertylongbeforetheUMCwas buttheyhaverefusedtofollowthat ConferenceintheCircuitCourtforthe foundedin1968. processchoosingtofilethislawsuit EighthJudicialCircuitinandfor "TheAnnualConferencehastaken instead,"wroteCarter. BradfordCounty,CivilDivision. thepositionthatitisentitledtokeep "Weaskthat,despitetheirhaste, Aspecificissueinthelawsuitishow theGraceUMCProperty—whichwas thesegroupsseekingtobreakawaylive thedepartingcongregationsare ownedandpaidforbyGraceUMClong uptotheresponsibilitiesestablished requiredtopaytheconferencea"sum beforeTheUMCandtheAnnual bytheGeneralConferencein2019,and ofmoney"toretaincontroloftheir Conferenceeverexisted—unless thattheynotcausepain,damageor churchproperties. GraceUMCpaysasubstantial disparageotherUnitedMethodist Thecomplaintallegesthatthis paymentofmoneyasunilaterally churches,othermembersintheir payment"isdeterminedinthe determinedbytheAnnualConference churchesorotherpastors,orthe discretionoftheaforementioned Defendant,"thesuitstates. Conference." parties,andisalwayssubstantialand GraceUMCandtheotherchurches Cartercautionedagainst"anabrupt oftenprohibitive,yetnonnegotiable arerepresentedbytheNationalCenter separation"likewhathebelievedthe 8 VOLIII AUG2022