Turns out that permitting LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage were not the only changes coming to the UMC.
Support for abortion rights, mandatory diversity representation on all church boards, and no more permitted congregational disaffiliations are some of the other major changes. Below is an abbreviated list of the new UMC doctrines and practices. There is a link below to more detailed info.
Quick Look at the Recent General Conference of the United Methodist Church The General Conference of the United Methodist Church concluded last week in Charlotte, NC.
Below are some of the changes the General Conference effected in official United Methodist doctrine and practice:
A Redefinition of MarriageA redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples: "
Within the church, we affirm marriage as a sacred lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith, an adult man and woman of consenting age, or two adult persons of consenting age into union with one another"; The Ordination of People in Same-Sex RelationshipsThe permitting of "s
elf-avowed practicing homosexual" candidates to be ordained and to serve as pastors in the UMC;
The Use of Church Buildings for Same-Sex Marriage CeremoniesThe opening of United Methodist churches to host same-sex marriage ceremonies, and the permitting of UMC pastors to officiate at same-sex marriage ceremonies;
The Removal of Adultery as a Specific Chargeable Offense for Married PastorsThe removal of a specific mention of adultery as a chargeable offense for married pastors (the phrase "fidelity in marriage" was removed); the removal of a specific mention of a failure to live celibately as a chargeable offense for unmarried pastors (the phrase "celibacy in singleness" was removed);
UMC Support of Abortion RightsThe approval of a resolution declaring the UMC's support of abortion rights: "
The United Methodist Church affirms this statement and upholds a person's right to an abortion after informed consideration with their family, medical practitioners, pastor, and other pertinent counsel. State and federal laws and regulations prohibiting abortion violate a person's right to the full range of reproductive health care, and, potentially, life." The Mandating of Diversity Requirements for Official Boards and BodiesThe requirement that official boards and bodies include people representing various diverse constituencies, including people of various sexual orientations. For example, with regard to the Judicial Council: "
The Judicial Council shall be composed of nine members and should reflect the diversity of The United Methodist Church, including race, age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, economic condition, jurisdiction and central conferences, and congregational size." The Ending of the Possibility of Disaffiliation for UMC CongregationsThe window for disaffiliation from the UMC closed on December 31, 2023, and the General Conference declined to continue this policy.
More details here:
what-happened-at-the-united-methodist-general-conferencev20.pdf (peopleneedjesus.net)My wife and I were formerly active members of the UMC in Houston, but we left the summer of 2015 when an ultra-liberal pastor was assigned to our church. Now we are in the process of joining a congregation that disaffiliated from the UMC.