NASHVILLE — The United Methodist Church (UMC) has called for 75 weeks of “focused prayer” for the future of the denomination as it determines its view on homosexuality.
As part of the second phase of the “Praying Our Way Forward” initiative, which started New Year’s Day, each annual conference will adopt 1 of the 75 weeks to pray for UMC, according to The Christian Post.
During the first phase, 84 bishops spent 15 minutes a day for four months in prayer for the selection and initial work of the Commission on a Way Forward, which will analyze the Church’s position on LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) issues.
Historically UMC’s Book of Discipline has stated that homosexuality is a sin, that marriage is between one man and one woman only and that clergy are banned from being in same-sex relationships, according to the Post.
According to UMC, the 75-week period started in the North Carolina Annual Conference on Jan. 1 and will end in 2018. (TAB)
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