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.
Independent UN experts urge Yemen’s Houthis to free detained Baha'i followers
WABC Radio suspends Rudy Giuliani for flouting ban on discussing discredited 2020 election claims
Elon Musk reveals bizarre way he gets to sleep at night
Framber Valdez pitches 7 strong innings and Astros use a late 4
Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature
Framber Valdez pitches 7 strong innings and Astros use a late 4
War widow Christina Schmid, 49, who campaigned for soldiers killed in service, appears in court
How West Virginia's first transgender elected official is influencing local politics
Pope trip to Luxembourg, Belgium confirmed for September, 2 weeks after challenging Asia visit
Rapper NBA YoungBoy is held on $100K bail in Utah prescription fraud case
Key evidence in the 'burking' murder trial was 'hidden' from defence lawyers
Billy Graham statue for U.S. Capitol to be unveiled next week