United Methodist Church Announces Historical “Split” Over LGBTQ+ Rights
Posted by Lexi Jones | Jan 5, 2020
The country’s third-largest religious denomination may soon become two. A group of 16 leaders from the United Methodist church announced Friday a plan to split the denomination due to “fundamental differences,” following a years-long debate over same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ rights within the church.
This comes after the rejection of an earlier proposal made at the 2019 general conference, entitled the One Church plan. It would have allowed local churches to perform same-sex weddings and ordain LGBTQ+ clergy members. In addition, a separate proposal submitted by the United Methodist Queer Clergy Caucus—the Simple Plan—was also voted against at the conference.
Historic Separation Depends Upon May Conference
Highland Park United Methodist Church
The proposal will be voted on in May at the church’s annual general conference. If passed, it will allow permission of LGBTQ+ clergy members and permit same-sex marriage, but the new “traditionalist” denomination would continue to refuse any LGBTQ+ person from becoming ordained and oppose same-sex marriage.
As of now, LGBTQ+ church members cannot become ordained pastors; those who are ordained are not allowed to perform same-sex marriages. Furthermore, new punishments were set to go into effect prior to the announcement.
If pastors participate in same-sex weddings, they would receive one year’s suspension without pay for the first wedding ordained and removal from the clergy for any thereafter.
Those involved with the proposal state that this division is “the best means to resolve our differences, allowing each part of the Church to remain true to its theological understanding, while recognizing the dignity, equality integrity, and respect of every person.”
A Split Years in the Making
This historic separation within the United Methodist Church is one that has been brewing in the background for decades.
As stated in the nine-page document, attendees at last year’s general conference in St. Louis “did not resolve their differences specifically related to the full participation of LGBTQ persons in the life of the Church.”
At said conference, 53% of the church leaders who attended voted in support of the ban on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ ordination, stating that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.”
Strengthening their stance more, the denomination also announced that individual churches and clergy would possibly face removal if they did not affirm their stance against same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ clergy by 2021.
If the separation passes, local churches will have the choice to remain in the United Methodist Church or join the new traditionalist denomination. As far as international churches go, the choice is up to them.
Leviticus 18 and 20… If a man Lay with a male as with a woman with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; They shall surly be put to death; their blood is upon them.”
don’t forget about all the people who have owned and sold slaves
Exodus 21:16
16 “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
Greg, read all of Leviticus; it contains 613 commandments not 10. Eating shellfish or pork is an abomination to God as well. Remember what Jesus said about throwing a stumbling block in the way of anyone seeking salvation, the penalty for that is far greater than death. Don’t swallow what the preacher man hands you, seek true wisdom from God would be my advice.
The real Charles.
What does that have to do with homosexuals? Somebody strike a nerve, Chucky?
i’m not really charles i’m KAG i post with the name charles in an attempt to make him look uneducated like me
I suspect Charles point is that the Bible is filled with a lot of problematic, hateful shit and you should be smart enough by this point in time over 2,000 years later… to figure out to keep the good parts and ignore the hate filled ones.
“And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:19
I am smart enough to figure out you should not try to remove any part of the Bible. If you think it’s “problematic, hateful sh#t” then you need someone to teach you a little more about God and His Holy Word.
Mark, that wasn’t me. However that is my opinion, the bible has been perverted by both men and organized religion. The truth is still there, but one must look for it. The preacher leads us on a mission of blind faith that every word is accurate, and it isn’t. Of course the preacher gets their collection plate filled quicker, lives in fine homes, drives new cars etc. All while ‘claiming’ to represent Jesus, who walked everywhere and never owned a house. I put my faith in Jesus Christ, not the preacher man. Yes the bible is filled with some problematic verses, but some are problematic because man cherry picks verses to meet their particular agenda.
I’ve come to the conclusion that “Charles” and some others only want to believe the parts of the Bible that suit their “particular agenda” so they don’t feel guilty about the way they live.
I came to the conclusion that ‘one’ of the people who call their self Citizen is stupid long ago! I don’t need to feel guilty of anything between myself and God you old fool! You make me sick, and your kind turn more people against God than Satan himself, you bible thumping hypocrite.
That’s not me you’re responding to ‘Citi’! I’m not worried about gay people, so I don’t think much about it. You seem to be the one with the nerve problem Citi!
What will this do to the big Methodist on the hill? Will it split? They’ve always supported and condoned homosexuality in the past. They had a lesbian choir director for several years. Also had a lesbian soloist for a while.
If you don’t attend there Jim Smith, what concern is it of yours? I guess you think your church doesn’t have any LGBT folks in it? It does, they just may not be telling you about it.
#1: I never said it was of any concern to me. I simply made a statement and posed a question. The statement I made is not my opinion or an assumption. It is 100% fact that is well known throughout the community.
#2: you made the assumption that I attend church and there are
homosexuals in that congregation
Obviously, I struck a nerve with you by stating facts only. Never once did I offer my personal opinion, unlike you. I know you aren’t the choir director I referred to. She passed away. However, are you the soloist in question?
Jim, you are wasting your time debating anything with LCAlltheWay . She’s a self centered old liberal who is always right.
The real Charles.
A Bible Lesson for Citizen:
The Bible was written in a number of languages, many of which no longer exist. The ones we are most familiar with are Greek, Hebrew and Latin (which was Roman). There were others, perhaps even Egyptian. The translation we see in the King James is directly from the Catholic Church, but far older. Said Church removed the Apocrypha, although they still possess it and use it in Catholic Bibles. The ‘Dead Sea Scrolls’ also possessed by the Catholics isn’t published as far as I know. Several books of the Old Testament were removed by the Jews, they call the OT the Tora. All this far before the KJV. You say every word is true, and nothing can be removed by quoting the last verse of the Book of Revelations. What about all that’s been removed over the last couple thousand years? How about that Citizen?
I have made a mistake here. Two things you should never argue about – politics and the Bible. I will carry this conversation no further, as you appear to be a terribly lost soul, the way you try to rationalize not believing God’s Word. Good luck to you.
I just stated provable facts Citizen, my belief in God has never wavered. Judge not Citizen, lest you be judged! I believe Gods word, just not mans word. The uneducated are being led to damnation by the lying mouth of the preacher man, as he fills his collection plate. Instead of learning the truth, you are satisfied with a lie. You may worry about your own soul, God will deal with mine.
Citizen I am honestly sorry for the bad things I said to you. Whether we agree or not, we both have a right to our own opinion. Don’t let me stop you from expressing your views and I hope you will allow me to post mine. Our opinion in the grand journey called life means so very little. I hope you and yours had a Merry Christmas and a great New Year. Sometimes I sit upon a high horse, when I should ride a donkey. I am sorry.