Second-Largest Protestant Denomination in U.S. Votes to Allow LGBT Clergy
United Methodists voted on Wednesday to rescind a denominational rule prohibiting LGBT clergy from ordination, a historic moment for the country’s second-largest Protestant denomination and its progressive drift. . .
At the UMC’s general conference meeting in Charlotte, the denomination struck the prohibition from denomination guidelines with an overwhelming vote, 93% to 7%. The change was passed alongside nearly two dozen other pieces of legislation without debate.
The change follows the conference’s trend, which has been to pass denominational legislation normalizing the LGBT lifestyle and to remove ethical and disciplinary measures related to LGBT-identifying and LGBT-practicing Christians. Conference delegates are expected to pass additional pro-LGBT measures before the conference ends on Friday.
Methodists who oppose the UMC’s progressive trend began breaking away from the denomination several years ago, starting the Global Methodist Church or remaining independent. Thousands of Methodist congregations have already joined the ranks of the Global Methodist body.
The pro-LGBT affirming vote is representative of the split, as most conservative Methodists chose not to attend the conference. (Read more from “Second-Largest Protestant Denomination in U.S. Votes to Allow LGBT Clergy” HERE)
