All articles tagged with #united methodist church
Originally Published 1 year ago — by NBC News
Beth Stroud, defrocked in 2004 for being in a same-sex relationship, has been reinstated as a pastor in the United Methodist Church following the denomination's recent repeal of anti-LGBTQ bans. Stroud, who has been teaching at Princeton University and will soon join the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, expressed mixed emotions about her past and future in ministry.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Associated Press
The United Methodist Church faces a critical juncture as it approaches its upcoming General Conference, with African churches weighing the possibility of disaffiliation over disputes on sexuality and theology. While some African delegates advocate for leaving the denomination due to differences in church rules, others oppose disaffiliation, emphasizing the rich spiritual legacy and international bonds of the UMC in Africa. The debate also centers on proposals for regional autonomy and the potential repeal of the church's bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination, with significant implications for the future of the denomination.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The New York Times
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.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Forbes
Hundreds of congregations of the United Methodist Church (UMC) have voted to leave the denomination amid a schism over LGBTQ issues, with remaining congregations having six weeks to decide whether to stay or leave. This theological divide has also affected other Protestant churches in the United States, such as the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church, and the American Baptist Churches USA. The UMC's decision to allow churches to disaffiliate over homosexuality has led to the departure of over one-fifth of its congregations.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Week
The United States is reportedly brokering a deal between Israel and Hamas for a temporary pause in fighting in exchange for the release of Hamas-held hostages; Argentina is holding a presidential runoff election that could see a shift to the right; France successfully tested a long-range ballistic missile to boost its nuclear defenses; 261 Georgia congregations are leaving the United Methodist Church over LGBTQ+ issues; the University of Wisconsin-Madison condemned a neo-Nazi march in the city; a Kansas elementary school is accused of forcing a Native American boy to cut his hair; rescue efforts continue for 41 workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in India; Taylor Swift postponed a concert in Brazil following the death of a fan; and President Joe Biden performed panda diplomacy during a sketch on "Saturday Night Live."
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CNN
The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church has accepted the decision of 261 congregations to leave the denomination due to a divide on LGBTQ issues. This follows a 2019 decision by the national United Methodist Church allowing congregations to leave by the end of 2023. Over 6,000 congregations in the US have been approved for disaffiliation since 2019. The departing churches account for a significant percentage of the North Georgia Conference's nearly 700 churches. The disaffiliation will take effect at the end of November, and the departing churches must fulfill financial obligations and are prohibited from further litigation against the conference.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CBS News
Thousands of congregations in the United States are leaving the United Methodist Church due to divisions over LGBTQ rights. The church's rejection of same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy has led to an exodus of about 20% of its congregations since 2019. The church's global legislative body, the General Conference, has upheld these rules, but more liberal congregations have defied them. Many congregations are leaving to join the newly formed Global Methodist Church, which maintains the traditional rules. Disagreements over LGBTQ issues, as well as differing interpretations of the Bible and Jesus, have caused divisions within the church.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NPR
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.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by WTVC
The United Methodist Church is facing a potential schism as tensions between conservatives and progressives intensify over issues such as LGBTQ inclusion and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy. The church is set to hold a General Conference in 2022 to address these issues, but some fear that a split may be inevitable.