The Rev. Carol Gullatt, pastor of the Abundant Grace church plant for United Methodists in Albertville,, accepts a United Methodist cross and flame logo sign from the Rev. Steve West.

Grace Methodist Church removes flame from cross North Street Music and Arts Festival planned for downtown Decatur North Street Music and Arts Festival will be Saturday, Aug. 5, in Downtown Decatur.

The UMC Conference also noted that churches will be responsible for hiring their own pastors and must remove the words “United Methodist” and the cross and flame symbol from the properties.

Sun United Methodist Church on Louisiana 21 in rural St. Tammany Parish is one of 58 congregations leaving the national denomination and will become Sun Methodist Church on Jan. 1.

Nationally, more than 4,000 U.S. congregations have received their local conferences’ permission to disaffiliate. Some are remaining independent while others are joining the newly formed Global ...