(RNS) — After the departure of thousands of traditionalist United Methodist churches from the denomination over the past five years, it might stand to reason that those congregations remaining in the fold are more progressive and open to ordination and marriage of people in same-sex relationships.But the picture is far more mixed.
A new report from the Religion and Social Change Lab at Duke University that looked at disaffiliating clergy from North Carolina’s two United Methodist conferences or regions found that even after the departures, 24% of North Carolina clergy remaining in the denomination disagree with allowing LGBTQ people to get married and ordained within the denomination.
“…at least some amount of ambivalence over LGBTQ+ issues among UMC clergy is likely to persist for years to come,” the report concluded.
After a four-year COVID-19 delay, and the departure of about 7,600 U.S.-based churches — a loss accounting for 25% of all its U.S. congregations — the denomination is likely to reconsider the issue of human sexuality when it convenes its top legislative body April 23-May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
RELATED: The UMC lost a quarter of its churches — most in the South
Among its agenda items will be removing restrictive LGBTQ passages from the rule book, the Book of Discipline, which views homosexuality as “incompatible with Christian teaching” and forbids ordaining LGBTQ clergy or allowing clergy to officiate at same-sex weddings in the church.
“Theological Views of North Carolina UMC Clergy by Disaffiliation Status, 2021” (Graphic courtesy Duke University)
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A new report from the Religion and Social Change Lab at Duke University that looked at disaffiliating clergy from North Carolina’s two United Methodist conferences or regions found that even after the departures, 24% of North Carolina clergy remaining in the denomination disagree with allowing LGBTQ people to get married and ordained within the denomination.
“…at least some amount of ambivalence over LGBTQ+ issues among UMC clergy is likely to persist for years to come,” the report concluded.
After a four-year COVID-19 delay, and the departure of about 7,600 U.S.-based churches — a loss accounting for 25% of all its U.S. congregations — the denomination is likely to reconsider the issue of human sexuality when it convenes its top legislative body April 23-May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
RELATED: The UMC lost a quarter of its churches — most in the South
Among its agenda items will be removing restrictive LGBTQ passages from the rule book, the Book of Discipline, which views homosexuality as “incompatible with Christian teaching” and forbids ordaining LGBTQ clergy or allowing clergy to officiate at same-sex weddings in the church.
“Theological Views of North Carolina UMC Clergy by Disaffiliation Status, 2021” (Graphic courtesy Duke University)
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