Evangelist Billy Graham has switched church memberships, choosing to align with a church closer to home.

Various news reports say the 90-year-old evangelist wrote to the pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas _ where he has had his membership for more than 50 years _ to inform him of his decision to now affiliate with First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, S.C.

The South Carolina church, located closer to his home in Montreat, N.C., voted to accept Graham’s membership on Dec. 28.

Both churches are Southern Baptist congregations.

Among those reporting the change were The Dallas Morning News, The Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C., and Baptist Press.

“This was not an easy or quick decision by Mr. Graham, but he increasingly felt it was important to unite with First Baptist Spartanburg, as that has had his attention and focus, especially through television, in recent years,” Graham spokesman Larry Ross, told the Dallas paper.