St. Louis. MO - The United Methodist Church faces a likely surge in defections and acts of defiance now that delegates have rejected a move to ease the church's ban on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy.
The delegates from the U.S. and abroad are meeting in St. Louis to set policy for America's second-largest Protestant denomination, with 12.6 million members worldwide, including nearly 7 million in the United States.
Senior Pastor Adam Hamilton from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS had supported the “One Church Plan” which would have left questions of weddings up to individual clergy and congregations and questions of gay ordination up to individual conferences.
“I am deeply disappointed. The decision of this body is hurtful to gay and lesbian people and their families.” Hamilton said. “What we do know is that Church of the Resurrection will continue to be a church that welcomes all – regardless of sexual orientation. We may not all agree on everything, but we agree that we love and welcome all people.”
Delegates have taken up a competing measure that would tighten enforcement of the LGBT bans and encourage Methodists who opposed those policies to leave the church.