Md. judge rules against 37 churches suing UMC over property dispute

[Michie]

A Maryland judge has ruled against 37 churches that sued a regional body of The United Methodist Church, claiming that the rules for allowing them to depart the denomination were unfair.

Judge Michael Malone of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County issued an order and opinion last Friday siding with the UMC Baltimore-Washington Conference in the disaffiliation process dispute.

Malone upheld the Conference's claim that the denomination had “an irrevocable trust” over the properties of the UMC, including the church buildings belonging to congregations seeking disaffiliation.

Continued below.

Md. judge rules against 37 churches suing UMC over property dispute

A Maryland judge has ruled against 37 churches that sued a regional body of The United Methodist Church, claiming that the rules for allowing them to depart the denomination were unfair

www.christianpost.com

 

[jas3]

"While this decision from Judge Malone, who himself is a United Methodist layperson and opted not to recuse himself from this case, is a bit of a momentum killer, we will consult our legal counsel to discern what our next steps might be."

It's honestly shocking the judge didn't recuse himself, given the conflict of interest.