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.
Storms damage homes in Oklahoma and Kansas. But in Houston, most power is restored
Shen Yueyue Stresses Converging the Strength of Women and Families to Forge Ahead on a New Journey
Senior CPC official attends meeting on planning of Beijing's development
Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature
CPC Delegation Visits Trinidad and Tobago
Shen Addresses International Forum 'Ensuring Children's Rights to a Healthy Environment'
Shen Yueyue Stresses Fostering Virtue Through Education, Making More Contributions to Nurturing All
Britain's new bonkers EV: Callum Skye is an £80k electric buggy built in Warwickshire
China in the Eyes of Women Diplomats: Ten
Jessica Biel CHOPS her long locks into a bob after book signing in Studio City
Top Chinese diplomat stresses China