“We do not accept a change in the definition of marriage, and we will never accept marriage as anything other than one man and one woman, no matter what the Book of Discipline says,” said their leader, the Rev. Jerry Kulah of Liberia. “We are devastated now to be part of a denomination that officially contradicts the Bible’s teaching on marriage and sexual morality.”
Kulah has for months been suggesting that some African churches will leave the denomination.
In concert with several traditional United Methodist advocacy groups, such as Good News Magazine and the Wesleyan Covenant Association, Kulah has been advocating for a policy that would allow churches to leave the denomination.
The Rev. Jerry Kulah of Liberia leads a rally in support of traditional views of marriage and sexuality outside the 2024 United Methodist General Conference, May 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News)
So far, they have been unsuccessful. The General Conference on Wednesday voted to eliminate the pathway to disaffiliation that was created in 2019. In another motion, it directed annual conferences to develop policies for inviting disaffiliated churches to return to the fold, if they wish.
The denominational meeting concludes Friday.
This article originally appears here.
