News

United Methodist Church rejects proposal to allow LGBTQ ministers

by Justin Wise - 02/26/19 4:55 PM ET

The United Methodist General Conference on Tuesday reportedly rejected a proposal that would have let churches officiate same-sex marriages and ordain LGBTQ clergy.

Delegates at a national conference rejected the “One Church” proposal in a 449-374 vote, according to CNN.

United Methodist delegates, who have gathered in St. Louis this week, instead reportedly voted to push forward the “Traditional” plan, which reaffirms the church’s current beliefs and teachings.

{mosads}Churches would have to affirm their opposition to gay marriage and noncelibate LGBTQ clergy by 2021 under the plan. The churches would face removal from the denomination if they did not affirm that position.

Delegates will vote on that plan later on Tuesday, CNN reported.

The move threatens to split America’s second-largest Protestant denomination, one that has 7 million members and almost 32,000 churches in America. It has 12.5 million members worldwide.

Advocates of the “One Church” proposal had argued that the plan would help keep the denomination together during a time when views are changing on same-sex marriage. But many churches opposed this argument.

About 1,500 churches, almost all of them from the U.S., expressed support for leaving the denomination if the rules were changed to allow ordaining and marrying LGBTQ people, according to Religion News Service.

CNN reported that more liberal churches will likely leave the Methodist denomination because of the decision.

“Many of us have members who are saying they will leave,” said Rev. Tom Berlin of Virginia, a member of the church’s legislative committee. “A virus of conflict will spread.”

“God weeps,” Reconciling Ministries, a pro-LGBTQ church group, tweeted after the decision to reject the “One Church” proposal. “The Spirit rages. The children of God are undefeated.”

We mourn that the minority report OCP did not pass to replace the TP.

God weeps. The Spirit rages. The children of God are undefeated.#ForEveryoneBorn #UMC #UMCGC

— RMNetwork (@rmnetwork) February 26, 2019