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:
Related suggestion:
China firmly opposes Taiwan politician's official contacts with Czech: Chinese FMChina's envoy calls for collective action on nuclear disarmamentChina's top legislature to hold closing meeting on MondayMinistry: U.S. practice disrupts normal business activitiesXizang professor promotes plateau ecologyU.S. using Taiwan as 'pawn', says spokespersonTop legislator addresses closing meeting of China's annual legislative sessionChina's envoy calls for collective action on nuclear disarmamentJapan offers $20m to IAEA during agency's head visitChina reprimands U.S. for economic bullying over semiconductor restrictions
2.8502s , 6491.296875 kb
Copyright © 2024 Powered by United Methodists prepare for votes on lifting LGBTQ bans and other issues at General Conference ,Worldly Whispers news portal