United Methodist Church Merges North and South Georgia Conferences

United Methodist Church leaders approved the merger of the North Georgia and South Georgia conferences into a single Georgia Conference. The Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference voted 291‑0 on Tuesday to endorse the unification, following earlier votes in June where each regional body supported the plan with about 96 % in favor.

The new conference will begin operations on January 1, 2027 and is expected to encompass over 215,000 members and 549 congregations. The former North Georgia Conference contributed nearly 197,000 members and 962 clergy, while Bishop Robin Dease has supervised both conferences since September 2024. The consolidation reduces the total number of United Methodist conferences in the United States from 51 to 50.

The merger comes after a period of decline for the denomination, during which thousands of congregations left the United Methodist Church from 2019 to 2023 amid debates over blessing same‑sex unions and ordaining LGBTQ clergy. Bishop Dease described the vote as a thankful step toward deeper commitment, wider welcome and strengthened ministry across the state.