United Methodist Church Lifts Bans on Gay Clergy and Same-Sex WeddingsSource: © Miryana Slivenska—EyeEm/Getty ImagesOn May 1, 2024, delegates of the United Methodist Church voted without debate to lift a 40-year ban on “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from serving as clergy. In 2019, the church voted to tighten restrictions against same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ clergy. The United Methodist Church is the second-largest Protestant church in the United States, behind the Southern Baptist Convention. Should government officials be allowed to choose whether to perform a same-sex marriage or issue a marriage license? SourceRuth Graham, “United Methodist Church Reverses Ban on Practicing Gay Clergy,” nytimes.com, May 1, 2024

Source: New York Times May 14, 2024 11:21 UTC