The Hahns said the decision to leave Oak Ridge United Methodist was difficult. They are leaving behind friends and family, including Michael’s parents. But the Hahns said they explained their reasoning to their two teenage daughters, both of whom understood and supported them.
“The heart of it is the issue of human sexuality,” said Michael Hahn. “That’s an issue my wife wrestled with. Jesus loved and accepted everyone. How can we stand in opposition to our brothers and sisters in Christ?”
That issue has also forced Allison and John Brady to find a Lighthouse church in Charlotte after the church they had been attending for 25 years made clear its intention to leave the United Methodist Church.
“I have a heart for people who don’t fit the norm, for people who are different, for kids who have a hard time fitting in,” said Allison Brady of Waxhaw, North Carolina. “If (a church) discriminates based on sexual orientation, they can discriminate against women or people of color. I don’t want to be part of a group that discriminates against any group of people.”
The Bradys found Light of Christ United Methodist Church in the Ballentyne neighborhood of Charlotte, a congregation of 300 with many LGBTQ members, including one queer minister. Like all Lighthouse churches, Light of Christ is committed to remaining United Methodist.
This weekend, at least seven annual conferences will hold special sessions to approve disaffiliations by churches in their areas. On Saturday (May 6), the Western North Carolina Conference is expected to approve the exit of 192 of its 956 churches, or about 20% of the total. It will hold another special session in November to approve the final batch of disaffiliations.
Western North Carolina Bishop Ken Carter said that soon after Saturday’s special session to approve disaffiliations, the conference plans to start 17 new rural churches.
In the meantime, Stokesdale United Methodist will continue to reach out to new potential members who are considering transferring their membership but still working through the pain of having to leave their old church. A program of support is planned for May 13.
Michael and Heather Hahn will be there. They’ve pretty much decided their future is at the Stokesdale church.
“What we’ve found is a congregation that’s warm and welcoming,” Michael Hahn said. “To a person, they said, ‘We’re glad to have you here. We want to do everything we can to support you.’ There was an openness and a willingness to walk along the journey with us.”
RELATED: ‘Not a real schism’: Four years later, UMC exodus less a gush, more a trickle
This article originally appeared on ReligionNews.com.
