A number of members of the clergy, both in-person and virtually, spoke to members of Mt. Bethel Church during a special community prayer service on Sunday.
The service took place in the church’s main sanctuary on Lower Roswell Road, and lasted more than two hours (you can watch a full replay here).
Mt. Bethel organized the service after officials with the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church moved earlier this month to seize the East Cobb congregation’s assets and install denominational leadership over the church.
It was the latest move in an ongoing feud between the Conference and Mt. Bethel, which announced its intent to disaffiliate after Senior Pastor Dr. Jody Ray was reassigned this spring.
Ray resigned his UMC credentials instead and is remaining as a lay minister and CEO at Mt. Bethel, which said it would defend itself in court if Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson of the North Georgia Conference takes legal action.
Ministers as far away as Africa and Brazil as well as metro Atlanta and Georgia spoke via recorded remote messages.
Those speaking to church members from the pulpit were eagerly applauded not just for their calls for prayer and uplift, but for defiance against denominational edicts.
“Realize who your enemy is,” said Rev. Bryant Wright, the retired founding pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. “It is not the Bishop, it is the devil.”
His lengthy remarks included a call to Mt. Bethel members to prepare for “spiritual warfare,” which he said “intensifies when God’s about to do something good.”
Wright read from Ephesians 6:10, which implored Christians “to stand firm,” and after referencing Protestant dissidents Martin Luther and John Wesley, Wright told Mt. Bethel members they should be thankful for a leader in Ray.
“When a leader is accused of division, that is straight from the evil one,” Wright said.
Former Mt. Bethel member Chuck Savage, the pastor at Sardis UMC in Atlanta, encouraged the present congregation “to stand firm on the gospel.” He referenced comments from President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War that “our concern is that we always be on God’s side because God is always right.”
Ray spoke briefly near the end, saying that “courage in moments like this doesn’t come from within ourselves. It’s the presence of Christ. O, that God would find us faithful in this hour.”
He added that “what the world needs now is a courageous church that is willing to stand up for what is right, for what is true.”
Ray then led the congregation in the Lord’s Prayer and offered a benediction.
Related stories
- Mt. Bethel blasts ‘false declarations’ to seize assets
- North Georgia UMC to seize assets, take over management of Mt. Bethel
- Appointed Mt. Bethel pastor “disappointed” with church leaders
- Mt. Bethel church members fears “that we’re being torn apart”
- Mt. Bethel Church files grievance against Methodist leaders
- Mt. Bethel announces intent to leave United Methodist Church
- Mt. Bethel UMC opposes reassignment of senior pastor
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