Not even the sainted hymnist of Methodism, Charles Wesley, could sing better of the United Methodist Church’s future than King George III in the musical Hamilton: What comes next? Regrouping after decades-long conflicts over human sexuality, declining membership, decreased revenues…
Here’s why UMC delegates will face new twists in electing bishops this week
Bishop elections in The United Methodist Church are typically the kind of institutional politics only those with a major stake in the organization care about. This year, however, delegates to the UMC’s jurisdictional conferences coming July 10-12 face a new…
After UMC lifted bans on homosexuality, U.S. churches report calm while African churches see conflict
United Methodists in the United States are reporting their annual meetings are calmer and more joyful this year after the denomination’s top lawmaking body, the General Conference, removed the UMC’s 52-year-old policy holding “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with…
UMC faces turbulence after removing LGBTQ bans
Barely a month after a historic meeting that removed half a century of official discrimination against LGBTQ Christians, The United Methodist Church faces new turbulence as homosexuality foes opt out of the worldwide denomination. General Conference delegates voted in late…
Forty years
As the vote was announced, we wept and hugged. We wept and prayed. We wept and rejoiced. Outside in a convention center courtyard, we sang praises to God through joyful tears to the beat of Marcia McFee’s conga drum. Mittie…
UMC delegates remove ban on LGBTQ clergy by consensus vote
After 40 years of wrangling and rancor, delegates to the postponed 2020 United Methodist General Conference overwhelmingly removed the ban on ordaining “self-avowed, practicing homosexuals” as clergy. The vote was 692 for and 51 against to approve the consent calendar…
UMC General Conference removes much of LGBTQ restrictions in consensus vote
The 52-year battle over the exclusion of LGBTQ people from full participation in The United Methodist Church turned a major corner April 30 through a parliamentary move designed to adopt measures that have broad consensus from legislative committees. The battle…
As delegates prepare for UMC General Conference, advocates outline their appeals
As delegates pack their bags to attend The United Methodist Church’s first comprehensive General Conference in eight years, church bureaucrats and special interest groups are unpacking their respective legislative campaigns via press releases, op-eds, email, social media, videos and online…
Love Your Neighbor Coalition to bring hospitality, human rights focus to UMC’s General Conference
While many parts of The United Methodist Church see the coming General Conference focused on “3 Rs” — regionalization, Revised Social Principles and removal of LGBTQ bans — the Love Your Neighbor Coalition is bringing attention to two “Hs” —…