United Methodist Denomination Votes to Expel LGBT Pastors and Pro-LGBT Churches

[bronxiteforever]

The long-simmering schism exploded this week and will likely cause many U.S. churches to leave America’s second-largest Protestant denomination.
Jay Michaelson
02.26.19 4:59 PM ET


America’s second-largest Protestant denomination, the United Methodist Church, is set to split, as the church’s 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 denomination’s 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]

1. Well that's too bad.

Makes me think much less of the official Methodist church now.

[Wounded Bear]

2. I really don't care, do you?

Well, if it weakens the Talibangelist movement, maybe I'll have a happy.

[bronxiteforever]

3. I actually do care for the lgbtq folks who fought

For equality in the Methodist Church.
There are good people who were broken because of this. I wish them healing.

[walkingman]

6. I care because it is an example of our world becoming less tolerant - that is not good.

[LisaM]

8. I care because I have friends there working hard to prevent this.

They are probably devastated.

[mahina]

9. I care.

I’m not a member of their church but many are, and it’s a leap backwards.

[BigDemVoter]

13. There's nothing to be sad about or to care about-- just a bunch of fucking fundies.

[xmas74]

15. I'm not a fundie.

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]

19. Glad to hear you got away. I may not be christian, but I know there are LOTS of welcoming

and liberal christian churches to go to . . Good luck.

[alfie]

4. Does anyone know when the final vote is scheduled? nt

[JaneQPublic]

5. Good luck getting organists & music directors (nt)

[Ilsa]

24. I know one who will have to consider quitting his job over this crap.

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]

7. As a person who was raised in the United Methodist Church, I am

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]

16. Aaaand NOW you know what it feels like to be a Liberal (co-lapsed) American Roman Catholic.

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]

31. I am much the same on this

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. "United," huh? They should be ashamed.

[Laurelin]

11. If any Methodists feel the need to find a new church

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]

12. I honestly don't find this sad at all. . . .

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]

17. its weird how any lgbt person would want to attend a christian church. and scary nt

[xmas74]

14. I'm leaving.

And I saw a number of young members I know from church expressing similar views today on social media.

[Eko]

18. Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Not in a false prophet way, just in their actions speak louder than words.

[Behind the Aegis]

20. Goes to show how deeply ingrained bigotry against LGBT is.

Some of it is cultural, but that isn't completely to blame.

[lindysalsagal]

21. Seems like god should be able to convince his followers to care about each other....

Also seems like religion is already in a nosedive: Ironic that it will commit suicide willingly....

[oasis]

22. SMH. nt

[BigDemVoter]

23. Not that I was EVER religious or ever a member of this damned church. . .

But I won't ever be able to attend any kind of service there again-- wedding, funeral, baptism, etc.

Screw em.

[Ilsa]

25. I think this vote yields a death knell for the UMC in the US.

People are becoming more progressive in the US and will defect to other churches.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

26. Just disgusting!! These bigots should lose their tax exempt status immediately!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Zoonart]

27. Christians are hell bent on

destroying Christianity. Who would Jesus expel?

[JohnnyLib2]

28. I was there as an observer.

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]

29. So, it all boils down to money... yeah?

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]

30. There's a link in the Daily Beast article that leads to an article about

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]

32. Oh look, a bigoted church organization. What a surprise...nt

Sid