At the church's international meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, members overwhelmingly voted to pursue the "Traditional Plan," which recommits the religious organization to its 1972 policy assertion that "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching."
Per the original policy, gays and lesbians would not be allowed to marry under the church or join as clergy. But under the new "Traditional Plan," enforcement would be more harsh and consistent. Previously, gay clergy or those who performed same-sex marriages faced inconsistent enforcement, and the church's Judicial Council ruled against mandatory penalties under the current rules, according to the Associated Press .
The new "Traditional Plan" would mandate a one-year unpaid suspension for clergy who officiate a same-sex wedding. A second offense would result in expulsion, according to The New York Times .
The opposing plan that was voted down, called the "One Church Plan," would have removed the statement condemning homosexuality from the Church's primary rules document, and allowed regional bodies to determine their own policies on LGBTQ clergy and marriages.
Following the votes, numerous delegates surfaced accusations of "vote buying."
Florida delegate Carlene Fogle-Miller called for an investigation into the matter. Her proposal passed and will move onto the church's ethics committee. In a tweet , she wrote, "If there is nothing to hide, there is no need to fear an ethics investigation. Period."
The rule-change could split the church
According to the new policy, if congregations don't "certify adherence," they will be "urged" to leave the church. Aseparate vote allowed members to leave the sect along with their congregation's associated property.
Numerous congregations have reportedly indicated that the rule change would be cause for leaving anyway.
Minister Diane McGehee of Texas' Bering UMC told the Houston Chronicle , "Bering is real clear on where it stands. If it isnt allowed to stand that way in the UMC, itll find a place where it can." The church reportedly is protesting the rules by performing no marriage ceremonies until it can also perform same-sex ceremonies.
Kenneth Carter, the president of the churchs Council of Bishops, is aware of other congregations considering leaving the church, telling The New York Times, "Unfortunately, the losers will be the most vulnerable, who wont have the protection of a united church."
The divide extends along international lines
It has been reported that the primary lines of division within the church are along international borders. According to the Associated Press, 43% of delegates in St. Louis are from other countries, with most of them being from Africa. The delegation "overwhelmingly" supports the "Traditional Plan."
Rev. Jerry Kulah of Liberia spoke in favor of the "Traditional plan," arguing that it would bring Methodist practice in line with scripture. "You cannot be performing Christianity differently in America and Africa and suggest that we are one church," he said.
African religious leaders have notably been courted and lobbied by US conservatives. According to a 2009 report from the progressive think tank Political Research Associates, "US conservatives have successfully recruited a significant number of prominent African religious leaders to a campaign seeking to restrict the human rights of LGBT people As a direct result of this campaign, homophobia is on the rise in Africa from increased incidents of violence to anti-gay legislation that carries the death penalty."
The report identified numerous extreme groups that have specifically targeted Africa for spreading their ideology. One such group, MassResistance, has been categorized as an anti-LGBT hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Broadly reports that the group has been funding the creation of satellite groups in Nigeria since 2016.
Other delegations from the Phillippines and Russia, a country that passed an "anti-gay propaganda law" in 2013, have also reportedly been outspoken against gay marriage at the meeting.
LGBTQ issues have long been contested in the Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church has debated gay clergy and same-sex marriage for years, even as support for it among its congregation has grown over the years.
In 2016, the church created a commission to study the issue, whose vote was put off until 2019. The move was heralded has a historic step toward gay rights in the church.
In 2008, Methodists voted to leave the original policy toward LGBTQ clergy in place.
In 2005, Irene Elizabeth Stroud was defrocked for being a lesbian, an action that has been repeated since 1987. After the 2005 decision, however, the church frequently refrained from defrocking LGBTQ clergy. Given the new rules, it appears that the church may begin moving towards its earlier rules.
