Theologically conservative Methodists have broken away from the United Methodist Church (UMC) over LGBTQ acceptance.
According to a http://king5.com item, the breakaway denomination, called the Global Methodist Church, formed because its leaders have been exasperated by liberal churches’ continued defiance of UMC bans on same-sex marriage and the ordination of openly gay clergy.
Bishop Thomas Bickerton—who became the Council of Bishops’ new president on April 29 as the body ended a five-day meeting—described the development as a “sad and sobering reality.” Bickerton said he regrets any departure from the UMC and values the denomination’s diversity of thought.
Bickerton, who heads the UMC’s New York City region, succeeded Louisiana-based Cynthia Fierro Harvey as president of the bishops’ council. Harvey acknowledged the inevitable splintering of the denomination when she preached April 25 during her final address as the Council of Bishops president.