The delegates had just voted against considering a plan that allowed regional bodies in the UMC to independently decide whether to conduct same-sex marriages and ordain gay clergy. Warren, a lay delegate to the meeting, spoke to his more than 800 fellow delegates about his love for the UMC, the church in which he was raised. And he passionately pleaded for his church to stay united, despite threats of an impending rift over LGBTQ acceptance. Let us be the church together.”Warren received a long, boisterous, standing ovation. On Twitter, progressive United Methodists and other progressive Christians immediately began tweeting about Warren’s speech.

Source: Huffington Post February 26, 2019 18:53 UTC