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Will Methodists Split Over Same-Sex Marriage?

United Methodist pastors are engaging in passionate debate these days over the future of the denomination because of divided opinions about same-sex marriage. Several hundred Methodist pastors signed a statement at the end of last week saying the denomination should remain unified and respectful of differences on the issue, but not everyone thinks that’s possible.

USA Today wrote that a meeting last month of 80 pastors and theologians concerning the future of the United Methodist Church ended in an impasse over the controversy. The group issued a statement saying “we—laity, clergy and even the Council of Bishops—are divided and will remain divided … talk of a ‘middle way’ or of ‘agreeing to disagree’ is comforting and sounds Christ-like. However, such language only denies the reality we need to admit. Neither side will find ‘agreeing to disagree’ acceptable.”

Another large group of Methodists in Texas earlier this year called the division between traditional and more liberal viewpoints on homosexuality a “gulf.”

But new poll results show the vast majority of UMC members do not think the church should split over sexuality issues. A less prominent but still significant majority also feel the issue of same-sex marriage is distracting the denomination from more important concerns, such as serving the poor and decreasing membership numbers.

The United Methodist Church is the third largest denomination in the country with 7.6 million adherents. Its Book of Discipline declares homosexuality incompatible with Christian teachings and does not allow UMC pastors to perform same-sex marriages.