United Methodist Church leaders are convening their first international conference in nearly a decade, addressing contentious topics like same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ clergy amid a backdrop of declining membership. The summit, delayed by the pandemic, will decide on repealing bans on gay marriage and ordination, potentially granting more autonomy to conservative congregations abroad. With over 7,600 congregations departing over LGBTQ+ inclusivity disputes, the church’s revenue has plummeted, leading to budget cuts and salary reductions for pastors. Kimberly Scott, lead pastor at Grace United Methodist Church in Long Beach, California, sees this moment as pivotal for LGBTQ+ rights. Around the world, some UMC churches, particularly in Africa and Asia, seek to disaffiliate, believing the U.S. church has strayed from conservative values. The conference reflects a deeply divided institution grappling with its stance on social and political issues. More importantly, what does this say about LGBTQ+ members of the church and potential members. Are they welcome? Is their faith worth the same as all. And especially important, is what the Methodist Church is going through similar to what other major church associations are or will go through?
