Future unclear after UMC votes to keep rules on LGBTQ couples, clergy
The United Methodist Church retained current language in its Book of Discipline—but it might not be enforced, and churches are considering leaving from both sides.
Cynthia Fierro Harvey, president-designate of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, observes the results from the vote on keeping the denomination's rules on LGBTQ marriage and clergy at a legislative assembly in St. Louis on February 26, 2019. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.
A special session of the United Methodist Church’s legislative assembly voted February 26 to keep the global denomination’s current rules against same-sex marriage and noncelibate gay clergy and to strengthen enforcement of them.
The St. Louis meeting was meant to unify the church but instead underscored divisions and had all sides acknowledging a high level of pain. Yet after $3.7 million to put the meeting together and a wrenching three days of deliberations, the UMC gained only marginally more clarity on its future than when the meeting began.
The crucial vote was 438 delegates in favor of the Traditional Plan and 384 opposed.
