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. |
Eighties heartPip Edwards looks elegant in a black gown as she celebrates chef Nobu Matsuhisa in SydneyEighties heartVanderpump Rules: Scheana Shay encourages Tom Sandoval to 'genuinely apologize' to his exBangladesh wins toss and bowls against Zimbabwe in Twenty20 openerJapan beats Uzbekistan in stoppage time in U23 Asian Cup finalUK local elections: Boris Johnson turned away after forgetting photo IDTrump hush money trial: Testimony resumes after jurors hear crucial Michael Cohen recordingUK local elections: Labour flips seats it hasn't held in decadesAnya Taylor