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.
Jon Wysocki dead at 53: Staind drummer passes away
NASCAR revels in an M.J. moment. His Airness gives a big boost to his posthoops passion
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice: Lose his arm or lose his life
PEN America calls off awards ceremony amid criticism over its response to Israel
Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism
A new report says Mexico has abandoned protection of loggerhead sea turtles
Brit, 22, plunges to his death from fifth
5 found dead in Oklahoma home, including 2 children, police say
Kosovo prepares a new draft law on renting prison cells to Denmark after the first proposal failed
Seattle Kraken GM Ron Francis leaves open possibility of changes after team misses playoffs
The government wants to buy their flood
A cluster of earthquakes shakes Taiwan after a strong one killed 13 earlier this month