Nation May 17 Methodist pastor discusses major shift in church over LGBTQ+ inclusion By Geoff Bennett, Sam Lane
Nation Apr 29 United Methodists prepare for votes on ending bans on same-sex marriage, LGBTQ clergy One-quarter of the country's United Methodist churches left between 2019 and 2023, mainly conservative churches dismayed by progressive trends, and some are calling for international churches to do the same. By Peter Smith, Associated Press
Nation Dec 27 Watch 5:09 Why thousands of congregations are leaving the United Methodist Church One of the dominant Christian denominations in the U.S., the United Methodist Church, is experiencing a major split. Since 2019, more than 7,000 congregations have received approval to leave the church. The factions have disagreements in theology, namely how the… By Amna Nawaz, Adam Kemp, Dorothy Hastings
Nation Dec 15 A quarter of United Methodist churches in U.S. have left during split United Methodist churches had a five-year window to leave the denomination over disputes involving its bans on same-sex marriage and ordaining LGBTQ persons. By Peter Smith, Associated Press
Nation Jul 06 United Methodists lose one-fifth of U.S. churches in schism over LGBTQ rights Church law forbids the marriage or ordination of "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals." But many conservatives chose to leave because numerous U.S. churches and conferences are defying those bans. By Peter Smith, Associated Press
May 04 With split delayed, United Methodists face a year in limbo By David Crary, Associated Press Had there been no coronavirus pandemic, America’s largest mainline Protestant denomination would be convening this week for a likely vote to break up over differences on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ pastors. Continue reading
Jan 03 Methodist leaders propose plan for amicable separation By Travis Loller, Associated Press Members of the 13-million-person denomination have been at odds for years over the issue. Some members, especially in the United States, have been demanding full inclusion for LGBTQ people. Continue reading