One-Fifth of United Methodist U.S. Congregations Leaving Over LGBTQ+ Issues
Most of those leaving are conservative, as it's expected the church will soon adopt more LGBTQ-affirming policies.
July 7, 2023
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Most of those leaving are conservative, as it's expected the church will soon adopt more LGBTQ-affirming policies.
The church has long been divided into factions over its stance on homosexuality and gay clergy and even weighed splitting into two separate churches over the issue.
Delegates at a conference turned down another opportunity to include LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriages.
"As Florida clergy who identify as LGBTQ+ and LGBTQ+ allies, it is our moral duty to be in solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer/questioning people," they say.
Churches that support LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage would remain Methodist, while those opposed would form a new denomination.
Because some churches are performing marriages for all parishioners and allowing LGBTQ+ people to serve as clergy members, one church is discussing leaving the conference.
Delegates at the church's General Conference are likely to vote to rescind anti-LGBTQ+ policies, but it's not a done deal.
The Synod of Synodality was supposed to decide important doctrinal issues but instead upset most, observers say.
An official church body in the state has rejected the idea of an apology, but some Methodists are going ahead with their own.
The third-largest Christian denomination in the United States remains deeply divided over queer congregants.
Beth Stroud said her "whole life would have been different" had she not been removed from her position in the church.
The British Methodists hope to avoid a split over the issue, something the denomination's U.S. counterpart is considering.
There have been mixed signals coming out of the bishops' meeting, which has entered its final week.
The brave reverend who recently came out to her Kansas congregation says her denomination needs to evolve or die.
The Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer will be bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod, covering parts of California and Nevada.
Drew Stever, a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, is one of the few out transgender clergy members to be ordained by a Christian institution.
No need to pack a church -- Believe Out Loud is offering an LGBTQ-centric service to be viewed online.
While seeking to make faith communities LGBTQ-inclusive, we must also confront racism, misogyny, and other oppressive ideologies, writes Rev. M Barclay.
The demonination appears on the brink of a schism.
With skyrocketing attempts to ban books by and about LGBTQ+ people and people of color, the guide provides a way to fight back.
The Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer says their fellow Lutherans "prayerfully and thoughtfully voted to do a historic thing."