The 198 churches voted by 66.7 percent or more to leave the denomination, either to become independent or join more conservative denominations where traditional Christian bans on same-sex marriage are not up for debate.
Read moreMethodist Denomination Splits Over Homosexuality, Liberals Form New Group
“There are no doctrinal litmus tests in the movement. We are moving beyond the supremacy of a single belief system,” said the ‘Rev’. Janet G. McKeithen, a member of the Liberation Connexion working group.
Read moreMethodist Church Proposes Historic Split Over Gay Marriage And LGBT Pastors
Ordained Lesbian Methodist pastors protesting for LGBTQ Ordination
In 2016, dozens of United Methodist clergy came out as lesbian, gay or bisexual defying the ban on "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" in ministry and essentially daring their supervisors to discipline them.
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