United Methodists confront possible split over LGBT issues

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

United Methodists confront possible split over LGBT issues

By DAVID CRARY
February 20, 2019

The United Methodist Church’s top legislative assembly convenes Sunday for a high-stakes, three-day meeting likely to determine whether America’s second-largest Protestant denomination will fracture due to divisions over same-sex marriage and the ordination of gay clergy.

While other mainline Protestant denominations — such as the Episcopal and Presbyterian (U.S.A.) churches — have embraced gay-friendly practices, the Methodist church still bans them, even though acts of defiance by pro-LGBT clergy have multiplied and talk of a possible breakup of the church has intensified.

At the church’s upcoming General Conference in St. Louis, 864 invited delegates are expected to consider three plans for the church’s future. Several Methodist leaders said they expect a wave of departures from the church regardless of the decision.

“I don’t think there’s any plan where there won’t be some division, and some people will leave,” said David Watson, a dean and professor at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, who will be attending the conference.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/3a2684b7372b41d78c3d005ea601173e

[trotsky]

1. Ah religion, so good at uniting people.

[Major Nikon]

3. Better at splitting over who you can own and hate

[Igel]

4. They're like the Episcopals.

They were united.

Then some came along and said, "You must change doctrine."

Then they weren't.

An ancestor church to the one I was in long ago was united.

Then somebody came along and said, "We're changing doctrine."

Then they weren't. The church still exists--it's got a congregation or two, instead of the congregations in every state and 30 countries--but it's somewhere to the liberal of Methodism.

[trotsky]

5. Well that's so simple.

Good thing you're the one who has it right, and they are wrong. How easy this is!

[underpants]

2. No longer United?

Does mean there will be a Confederate Methodist church?