Churches Divided: LGBTQ+ Inclusion Sparks Congregational Exodus

A growing number of congregations are leaving the United Methodist Church due to disagreements over LGBTQ issues. Many church leaders openly defy the church's official rule book, called the Book of Discipline, which states that "homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching." Around 20% of United Methodist congregations, over 6,000 in total, have left the denomination in recent years. However, leaving is not easy, as congregations must pay significant fees and face property disputes. The divisions over LGBTQ issues reflect broader tensions within mainline Protestant denominations, with some churches taking more progressive stances and losing membership as a result.