More than 6,000 United Methodist congregations have now received permission to leave the denomination amid a schism over theology and the role of LGBTQ people.
— More than 6,000 United Methodist congregations — a fifth of the U.S. total — have now received permission to leave the denomination amid a schism over theology and the role of LGBTQ people in the nation's second-largest Protestant denomination.
Many of the departing congregations are joining the Global Methodist Church, a denomination created last year by conservatives breaking from the UMC, while others are going independent or joining different denominations. “For the most part, bishops and other annual conference leaders have been very gracious, and I deeply appreciate that,” Therrell said. “There have been some small exceptions to that, and those are unfortunate, but we’re grateful that cooler and calmer heads have prevailed.”
But for those who want “to go and live out their Christian faith in a new expression, we wish God’s blessings on them,” he said. The departures have been particularly large in the South and Midwest, with states such as Texas, Alabama, Kentucky and Ohio each losing hundreds of congregations.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
United Methodists lose one-fifth of U.S. churches over LGBTQ bansMany of the departing congregations are joining the Global Methodist Church, a denomination created last year by conservatives breaking from the UMC.
Read more »
One in five United Methodist congregations in the US have left the denomination over LGBTQ conflictsMore than 6,000 United Methodist congregations have now received permission to leave the denomination amid a schism over theology and the role of LGBTQ people
Read more »
1 in 5 United Methodist congregations in the U.S. have left over LGBTQ conflictsMore than 6,000 United Methodist congregations have received permission to leave the denomination amid a schism over theology and the role of LGBTQ people in the nation’s second-largest Protestant denomination.
Read more »
1 in 5 United Methodist congregations in US left denomination over LGBTQ conflictsThe departures began with a trickle in 2019 — when the church created a four-year window of opportunity for U.S. congregations to depart over LGBTQ-related issues — and cascaded to its highest level this year.
Read more »
1 in 5 United Methodist congregations in US left denomination over LGBTQ conflictsThe departures began with a trickle in 2019 — when the church created a four-year window of opportunity for U.S. congregations to depart over LGBTQ-related issues — and cascaded to its highest level this year.
Read more »
1 in 5 United Methodist congregations in the U.S. have left over LGBTQ conflictsOver 6,000 United Methodist congregations will leave the denomination in a schism over the role of LGBTQ people in the nation's second-largest Protestant church
Read more »