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A further 41 Texas churches leave UMC over LGBTQ stance

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A further 41 conservative congregations in Texas have now left The United Methodist Church amid ongoing disagreement over the Bible’s teaching on same-sex marriage and the ordination of openly gay and trans clergy, the Christian Post (CP) reports.

The debate over how to relate to members of the LGBTQ community has raged in the UMC for several years now. According to the denomination’s Book of Discipline, homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching.” However, progressive denomination leaders began to refuse to abide by the Book’s stance.

As a result, many hundreds of conservative congregations have left the denomination, with a majority joining the newly established conservative Global Methodist Church denomination.

At the UMC’s North Texas Annual Conference held on Saturday, a further 41 churches were officially released from the denomination in accordance with their requests for dismissal. In a statement to the Christian Post, the conference said the regional body “releases these churches with its full blessing.” No churches have been denied dismissal, the statement said.

“Following the day’s vote, more than 230 churches in the North Texas Conference remain committed to the mission and values of The United Methodist Church and will continue to help people grow in their love for God; proclaim new life in Christ; serve others — especially the poor; and pursue mercy and justice so people can live whole lives,” the statement added.