Methodist church split over lgbtq

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By the end of 2023, the United Methodist Church will be significantly less united, torn asunder by a host of issues but mostly over how to address lgbtq+ marriage and gay clergy. Schism over LGBTQ issues is a well-trodden route for mainline Protestant denominations, and the United Methodists have taken some lessons from the Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Lutherans. Here's a look at the breakup of the United Methodist Church, why it matters, and where it fits in American Christianity.

What is happening with the Together Methodist Church?

United Methodists own been more or less civilly disagreeing about homosexual rights since the 1970s, but the issue came to a head in 2019. At a UMC General Conference that year, the theologically conservative camp, aided by socially conservative United Methodists from Africa, outflanked the moderates and liberals and pushed through a resolution affirming existing UMC bans on homosexual weddings and the ordination of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" as clergy.

The General Conference also approved a novel church law, Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline, offering UMC churches a path out of the Unite

Nebraska United Methodist Church congregations split with denomination over LGBTQ issues

In a 655 to 29 vote Wednesday night, the Great Plains conference of the Together Methodist Church ratified legislation to allow a total of 156 member churches in Kansas and Nebraska to split from the main church.

The rift is largely due to disagreements about LGBTQ issues, such as whether to enable gay clergy and whether ministers should officiate at same-sex weddings – issues that remain up for debate among church members. At the heart of the matter are fundamental differences about the future of the church.

“We still have about 750 churches,” said Bishop David Wilson, who leads the Excellent Plains UMC. “And so these are folk who are more like-minded in terms of how we do ministry. And of course, looking here and even around issues of human sexuality.”

‘Staying UMC’

The vote came via an online session attended by church leaders from both states. Todd Seifert, a Superb Plains UMC spokesman, said the process has been consistent since the Superb Plains UMC began considering disaffiliations in 2020.

“Our objective all along has been to ensure churches are not hampered in any way in their ministry,”

Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ+ Issues: The Together Methodist Church

In May 2024, the General Conference voted to remove longstanding bans on the ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy and the celebration of lgbtq+ marriages by clergy and in churches. These changes became fully effective on January 1, 2025.

BACKGROUND

The UMC traces its origins to the Methodist movement initiated in the mid-18th century by Anglican priest John Wesley and his brother Charles. The current structure of the UMC was established in 1968 through the union of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The church is founded on three basic principles:

Do no harm.
Do good.
Practice the ordinances of God, including prayer, Bible reading, worship, and the Lord's Supper.

The global church structure mirrors the United States government with legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The legislative branch, the General Conference, meets every four years to set church policy. Approximately 1,000 delegates (half lay leaders, half clergy) gather to consider revisions to the Book of Resolutions and the Novel of Discipline. Decisions of the General Conference are binding until the next confer

Historic Methodist rift is part of larger Christian split over LGBTQ issues

Thousands of congregations have left the United Methodist Church amid contentious debates over sexuality, including a argue over whether to accept gay marriage and LGBTQ+ pastors.

The rift marks the largest denominational schism in U.S. history. A quarter of the church’s approximately 30,000 congregations said they planned to erase themselves from the United Methodist Church as of Dec. 31. The church is one of America's largest Protestant denominations.

The historic rift in the Joined Methodist Church is part of a larger split in recent years in the Christian religion over issues of gender and sexuality. Similar divides own led to splits among Baptists, Mennonites, Presbyterians and other protestant denominations.

"It's been brewing forever – for at least the last 20 years, " said Jason Bivins, a professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at North Carolina State University.

Meanwhile, the Catholic church is showing signs of an evolving stance on gay marriage.

'It left us' After historic Methodist rift, feelings of betrayal and expect for future

Other church splits in the

Some worshippers switching congregations amid United Methodist split over LGBTQ issues
The Rev. Bill Farmer reached the point where he couldn’t stay in the United Methodist Church anymore — but the congregation he attended was staying.
Michael Hahn always wanted to rest in the UMC — but his congregation was exiting it.
Each has create new church homes, and they’re not alone.
Thousands of United Methodist congregations have been voting on whether to stay or quit one of the nation’s largest denominations amid intractable debates over theology and the role of LGBTQ people. There are stark differences over recognizing queer marriage and ordaining LGBTQ clergy.
But the dividing line isn’t just running between congregations. It’s running right through the pews of individual churches, separating people who had drawn-out worshipped together.
Those who come up on the short finish of a disaffiliation vote face the dilemma of whether to stay or go.
The splintering — often grievous and tense — has spurred modern initiatives to provide havens for the unmoored. Some Joined Methodist regional conferences have begun designating “Lighthouse” congregations — ones that actively welcome people who