On Monday, May 8th, the Jonesboro-Hodge United Methodist Church (JHUMC) voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church joining a movement that is sweeping across Louisiana and the nation.

Members who attended the meeting that was held in the Community Room of the JHUMC, located at 402 Fourth Street in Jonesboro, were given three options to choose from.

1. Stay affiliated with the United Methodist Church
2. Disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church
3. Abstain from voting 

Louisiana Conference District Superintendent, Reverend Dr. Tom Dolph, who presided over the voting, announced shortly following the balloting that more than two thirds (2/3) of those present, which was required to render the choice valid, voted to leave the UMC ranks.

JHUMC was allowed to vote to disaffiliate from the denomination solely for reasons of conscience regarding a change in the requirements and provisions of the Book of
Discipline. Of primary concern was Paragraph 2553 which was in regard to the practice of homosexuality or the ordination or marriage of self-avowed practicing homosexuals as resolved and adopted by the 2019 General Conference, or the actions or inactions of its annual conference related to these issues.

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