The United Methodist Church (UMC) is set to lose 12% of its global membership following the overnight exit of African churches, particularly the Ivory Coast division, which has about 1.2 million followers. This mass departure comes after the UMC adopted new rules in early May at a conference in North Carolina, allowing gay pastors and same-sex marriage. The Ivorian leaders criticized the UMC for sacrificing its honorability and integrity to honor the LGBT community, deeming the denomination no longer suitable for their local church. This exit marks a significant blow to the UMC, a worldwide denomination of Protestantism headquartered in the US, which has been grappling with internal divisions over LGBTQ+ inclusion for years.
REPORT: More than a million United Methodists quit the church overnight over new rules about homosexuality In early May, the United Methodist Church in North Carolina changed its rules to allow gay pastors and same-sex marriage The Ivory Coast division, with about 1.2 million… https://t.co/hnljrTOIbS
🔥🚨BREAKING: More than one million United Methodists across the globe quit the church overnight after sex rule change that allows gay pastors and same-sex marriage. The United Methodist Church, a worldwide denomination of Protestantism which is headquartered in the US, made the… https://t.co/pVFHaXB0FY
More than one million United Methodists across the globe quit the church overnight after sex rule change that allows gay pastors and same-sex marriage. The United Methodist Church, a worldwide denomination of Protestantism which is headquartered in the US, made the rulings at a… https://t.co/Ljdr3wP4sT
🚨UNITED METHODISTS QUIT CHURCH OVER LGBTQ+ INCLUSION More than 1 million United Methodists left the church overnight after new rules allowing gay pastors and same-sex marriage were adopted at a conference in North Carolina. The Ivory Coast division, with 1.2M followers,… https://t.co/nAvVLKhQ8u
The exit of an entire African conference is the latest body blow to a United Methodist Church reeling from years of division over how the church should view homosexuals who wish to serve as ordained clergy or be married in a church ceremony. https://t.co/F3BPySqRIx
The UMC, its Ivorian leaders said, “has preferred to sacrifice its honorability and integrity to honor the LGBT” and thus “is no longer suitable” for the local church and has voted to leave the denomination. https://t.co/F3BPySrpy5
United Methodists to lose 12% of global membership as African churches exit over LGBTQ-friendly move https://t.co/okfKLaymYN https://t.co/HcxVmKaS8b
United Methodists to lose 12% of global membership as African churches exit over LGBTQ-friendly move - https://t.co/sVVGhb0IP4