United Methodist Church proposes split over LGBTQ impasse

The United Methodist Church has proposed to split in order to resolve an impasse between two factions within the church that have not been able to agree on gay marriage and clergy. If passed, the proposal will restructure the church and create a new denomination for "traditionalist-minded biblically-based congregations."



A 16-member group of bishops and church leaders signed the proposal in December and released the nine-page plan titled, "Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation," on January 3. 

If passed during the church's 2020 general conference, set for May 5-15 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the proposal will allow churches that disapprove of homosexual marriage and clergy to break off from what will become an apostate church.

"The United Methodist Church and its members — after careful reflection, discussion and prayer — have fundamental differences regarding their understanding and interpretation of Scripture, theology and practice," reads the proposal. The church leaders agreed that separation is the "best means to resolve our differences, allowing each part of the Church to remain true to its theological understanding, while recognizing the dignity, equality, integrity, and respect of every person."

Unfortunately, church leaders who support homosexual marriage are looking to culture and not scripture, theology or even the holiness of God. 

Under the proposal, biblical traditionalists forming a new denomination can continue to restrict immoral sinful same-sex marriage and the ordination of gay people as clergy, the United Methodist News Service reports. The new denomination will likely be formed through the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a conservative network of congregations that has long prepared for such a split.

New York Conference Bishop Thomas Bickerton, part of the group behind the proposal, told the news service "it became clear that the line in the sand had turned into a canyon" during the contentious 2019 general conference.

"The impasse is such that we have come to the realization that we just can't stay that way any longer," he added. "To disobey clear scriptural prohibitions for the sake of a PC culture is to damned as outlined by scripture itself. There is only one gospel, one bible, one male one female."

If formed and incorporated, the biblical conservative denomination would get $25 million in United Methodist funds, can keep its local church properties, and all current clergy and lay employees of the denomination would be able to keep their pension plans.

The December proposal grew from discussions led by Bishop John K. Yambasu of Sierra Leone. Yambasu supports the Traditional Plan, one of several proposals considered during the 2019 Special General Conference, and believes marriage should be between a man and a woman. "As Africans we do not take kindly to the issue of homosexuals being ordained in the church... because we are United Methodists and that is what the book says we do," Yambasu said in a video posted by United Methodist in 2018.

The first openly homosexual United Methodist bishop, Karen Oliveto, told CBS Denver that the church's intent to split is personally heartbreaking. "I carry some sadness in this moment," she said but refuses to take responsibility for her selfish personal agenda and its effects on others.

According to Oliveto, "This has been growing in the United Methodist Church since 1972," she said. The contention began when liberal progressives within the church took issue with the bible - that says the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching."

She continued to say that"(Progressives) look at homosexuality through a lens of reason, and human experience. And, I think our traditionalists more look toward the Bible, first and only."  If that is the case then Karen Oliveto is apostate in every sense of the word.