“The upcoming three-day meeting of the top legislative assembly of the United Methodist Church (UMC) to be convened on February 24 will in all probability determine whether the second biggest Protestant denomination in the United States will split due to differences in opinions regarding same-sex marriage.” - World Religion News
“In findings released earlier this month, the survey found that 44 percent of respondents identified as ‘Conservative-Traditional,’ 28 percent identified as ‘Moderate-Centrist,’ 20 percent identified as ‘Progressive-Liberal,’ and 8 percent identified as ‘unsure.’” - Christian Post
“The United Methodist Church’s highest court has ruled that a plan that would change the mainline denomination’s official position against homosexuality is largely constitutional.” - CPost
“Over the past couple of years, the UMC has sought a resolution to the debate over its official position against homosexuality, gay marriage, and the ordination of openly gay individuals.
“The UMC’s Book of Discipline states that homosexuality is a sin, that marriage is only between one man and one woman, and that clergy are prohibited from being involved in same-sex relationships.” CPost
“The Wesleyan Covenant Association, a newly formed evangelical group of clergy and laity seeking to have the United Methodist Church go in a theologically conservative direction, held its inaugural one-day conference in Chicago, Illinois, on Friday.
“A rift has emerged in the United Methodist Church after delegates in the Western Jurisdictional Conference defied the Church’s prohibition of homosexuality on Friday to elect the Rev. Karen Oliveto as its first openly gay bishop.”
