United Methodists prepare for votes on lifting LGBTQ bans and other issues at General Conference
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — United Methodist delegates are heading into the homestretch of their first legislative gathering in five years — one that appears on track to make historic changes in lifting their church’s longstanding bans on same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy.
After a day off on Sunday, delegates to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church resumed their work Monday and will be meeting all this week before wrapping up their 11-day session on Friday
They’ve already begun making historic changes: On Thursday, delegates overwhelmingly endorsed a policy shift that would restructure the worldwide denomination into regional conferences and give the U.S. region, for the first time, the same right as international bodies to modify church rules to fit local situations.
That measure — subject to local ratification votes — is seen as a way the U.S. churches could have LGBTQ ordination and same-sex marriage while the more conservative overseas areas, particularly the large and fast-growing churches of Africa, could maintain those bans.
Related articles
Company wins court ruling to continue development of Michigan factory serving EV industry
GREEN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A judge has ordered a Michigan community to stop blocking efforts to br2024-05-21Jennifer Lopez stuns in an all
Jennifer Lopez stunned in an all-white outfit complete with a $432,000 Himalaya crocodile Birkin bag2024-05-21Venezuelan boxer Francisco 'Morochito' Rodríguez dies at 78
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Francisco “Morochito” Rodríguez, the boxer who won Venezuela’s first Olymp2024-05-21Mississippi city settles lawsuit filed by family of man who died after police pulled him from car
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi’s capital city has settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by survi2024-05-21Amir Khan's £11.5m luxury wedding venue finally hosts its first marriage: Bride arrives on horse
Amir Khan's £11.5million luxury wedding venue has finally hosted its first marriage after a series o2024-05-21Rebecca Minkoff's RHONY castmates rally around her as they film scenes for the show's new season
Rebecca Minkoff's Real Housewives of New York City castmates are showing their support for the fashi2024-05-21
atest comment