United Methodist Church rejects proposal to allow LGBTQ ministers

Source: The Hill | February 26, 2019 | Justin Wise

The United Methodist General Conference on Tuesday reportedly rejected a proposal that would have let churches officiate same-sex marriage 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. 

Churches would have to affirm their opposition to gay marriage and non-celibate 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.

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