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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUnited Methodist Denomination Votes to Expel LGBT Pastors and Pro-LGBT Churches
The long-simmering schism exploded this week and will likely cause many U.S. churches to leave Americas second-largest Protestant denomination.
Jay Michaelson
02.26.19 4:59 PM ET
Americas second-largest Protestant denomination, the United Methodist Church, is set to split, as the churchs top policy-making body set a final vote Tuesday to maintain prohibitions on homosexuality and to expel gay pastors.
From one perspective, the vote is puzzling. Why is UMC moving backward on LGBT inclusion when religious Americans are moving forward? But the answer is not hard to understand. UMC is a global denomination with 12.7 million members: 43% of participants at the denominations General Conference coming from overseas, mostly Africa. And while Americans are moving left, African church leaders are not.
African pastors conservatism is also partly the result of their competition with conservative Islam for followers. Some imams touts Islam as more pious than Christianity in part because of its hard line on homosexuality.
At stake are not only the affiliations of millions of American Methodists, but also their churches, those institutions financial assets, and the structure of the denomination itself. As it exits its global conference, the second largest Protestant denomination is in a shambles.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/united-methodist-denomination-votes-to-expel-lgbt-pastors-and-pro-lgbt-churches
One dean of a theological seminary said the UMC will lose an entire generation of pastors as a result of this.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,879 posts)Makes me think much less of the official Methodist church now.
Wounded Bear
(58,696 posts)Well, if it weakens the Talibangelist movement, maybe I'll have a happy.
bronxiteforever
(9,287 posts)For equality in the Methodist Church.
There are good people who were broken because of this. I wish them healing.
walkingman
(7,655 posts)LisaM
(27,827 posts)They are probably devastated.
mahina
(17,693 posts)Im not a member of their church but many are, and its a leap backwards.
BigDemVoter
(4,156 posts)xmas74
(29,675 posts)I have been a member of the church for many years. My child is a member. We stayed because we wanted to fight from within.
Today I left. It is obvious that their motto of Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors no longer applies.
BigDemVoter
(4,156 posts)and liberal christian churches to go to . . Good luck.
alfie
(522 posts)JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)Ilsa
(61,697 posts)He works with choirs, drama, and music groups across multiple counties, so many of his friends in the arts are lgbtq. It's heartbreaking.
TrishaJ
(798 posts)deeply disappointed; and at the same time, outraged.
If this denomination is so intent on satisfying the Methodist flock in Africa because Mohammad might win a few more converts than Jesus because Jesus may be a little more tolerant toward sexuality, then f*ck them. F*ck them forever.
On edit: I left the UMC years ago. I left Christianity years ago. And today's vote is just one more step in ensuring younger generations will follow suit, as Americans move forward and the church continues to spin it's wheels in Biblically inspired hate.
Volaris
(10,274 posts)Welcome to the club, babe. We drink the red wine on Not Sundays because it takes like yummy yummy Guilt, and we do not apologize for that.
The Genealogist
(4,723 posts)I was also raised in the UMC and left it and Christianity behind years ago. I am guessing that the church I attended will be contemplating leaving, as it is very open and affirming.
JDC
(10,130 posts)Laurelin
(533 posts)The ELCA is lgbqt friendly. It's been awhile since i attended a UMC church but i think the services were not wildly different way back then. I'm truly sorry for the people who were welcome last week and are not now. I think the Anglican church also sided with Africa some years back, leaving some US Episcopal churches out. I wish people would stop using Jesus to justify hatred. (The "evangelical" in "evangelical lutheran church of america" is not at all like the "evangelicals" they talk about on the news.)
My gay neighbor is an organist for a Methodist church. I hope he didn't just lose his job.
BigDemVoter
(4,156 posts)As a gay man, I have to say that those people can fucking rot in hell. I have no desire to attend their shit hole of a church, nor do I have any desire to spend ANY time with any of those self-proclaimed Christians. . . FUCK them. . . . If they weren't so ridiculous and pathetic, they would be funny.
And for ANY poor gay person who may attend that congregation, get the FUCK out while you can and have some goddamned respect for yourself.
msongs
(67,433 posts)xmas74
(29,675 posts)And I saw a number of young members I know from church expressing similar views today on social media.
Eko
(7,336 posts)Not in a false prophet way, just in their actions speak louder than words.
Behind the Aegis
(53,975 posts)Some of it is cultural, but that isn't completely to blame.
lindysalsagal
(20,726 posts)Also seems like religion is already in a nosedive: Ironic that it will commit suicide willingly....
oasis
(49,400 posts)BigDemVoter
(4,156 posts)But I won't ever be able to attend any kind of service there again-- wedding, funeral, baptism, etc.
Screw em.
Ilsa
(61,697 posts)People are becoming more progressive in the US and will defect to other churches.
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,122 posts)Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
Zoonart
(11,876 posts)destroying Christianity. Who would Jesus expel?
JohnnyLib2
(11,212 posts)A great many good people were shocked and horrified, our little group among them.
As a mental health professional, I paid close attention to the younger attendees, many of them from the GBLTQA community and close supporters. The pain and grief were openly displayed for any who looked. It was the worst display of emotional harm I've had to witness first hand... .
Were any other DUers there?
procon
(15,805 posts)No less that any other corporation, religion is a profit taking business. Evidently the pious haters are tithing more money than their more tolerant brethren, earning them a nice place in a special members only heaven, free from LGBT folks. Proving that hate sells better than love.
badhair77
(4,220 posts)the role of the conservatives bankrolling the spread of an anti-gay agenda in Africa. Worth the read.
https://www.politicalresearch.org/2009/12/01/the-u-s-christian-right-and-the-attack-on-gays-in-africa/
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid