United Methodist Church Proposes Historic Split Over Divisions On Gay Marriage

Leaders of the United Methodist Church announced a plan Friday for the church to split over divisions on gay marriage.

The leaders announced a plan Friday that will establish a “traditionalist Methodist” denomination that will continue to ban same-sex marriage and the ordination of gay or lesbian clergy members. The move comes after 53% of Methodist church leaders and lay members said at a February conference that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching” and voted to tighten the denomination’s ban on same-sex marriage.