United Methodist Church Faces Mass Exodus as Churches Depart

The United Methodist Church is experiencing a significant rupture as a quarter of its churches have left over disagreements regarding the ordination and marriage of L.G.B.T.Q. individuals. This marks the largest denominational schism in history, with over 7,500 congregations leaving since 2019. The exodus has led to a decline in the broader tradition of mainline Protestantism, and the United Methodist Church's footprint in the United States is expected to continue shrinking. As the denomination's quadrennial meeting approaches, where church law could potentially change, conservatives have launched a rival denomination called the Global Methodist Church. The Methodist Collegiate Church is also being launched by departing churches. The split reflects not only theological differences but also concerns about power, control, and financial independence.