UMC upholds marriage stance, split possible

A ruling by the United Methodist Church’s (UMC) highest court has upheld the denomination’s support of traditional marriage and its opposition to LGBT ordination. The ruling, some evangelical commentators say, could portend a split in the UMC.

In an April 26 ruling the UMC’s Judicial Council upheld 10 of 17 petitions in the Traditional Plan narrowly adopted by delegates to the UMC General Conference in February. The Traditional Plan affirmed the UMC’s longstanding declarations that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching” and “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” cannot be ordained to the ministry or married in the UMC.

The Traditional Plan is scheduled to take effect in January 2020. (BP)