By The United Methodist Church, a global Protestant denomination headquartered in the United States, has experienced a significant setback as more than one million of its members abruptly severed ties with the church following a recent rule change regarding homosexuality. The mass exodus, led by the Ivory Coast division known as EMUCI, which boasts an estimated 1.2 million followers, has left the church reeling from the sudden loss of a substantial portion of its worldwide membership.
The controversy stemmed from a North Carolina conference held in early May, during which the United Methodist Church amended its regulations to allow for the ordination of gay pastors and the celebration of same-sex marriages. In response to this decision, Bishop Benjamin Boni, president of the Ivory Coast division, accused the international leaders of “deviating from the Holy Scriptures” and “sacrificing its honor and integrity to honor the LGBTQ community.” The EMUCI, which joined the United Methodist Church in 2002, voted to separate from the umbrella organization on May 28 during a gathering at the Jubilee Temple of Cocody in Abidjan, citing “reasons of conscience.”
The departure of the Ivory Coast division deals a severe blow to the United Methodist Church, as EMUCI represented the largest overseas jurisdiction, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the church’s global membership. The United Methodist Church itself was formed in 1968 through the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church, and questions surrounding homosexuality have long been a contentious issue within the denomination. Prior to the recent rule change, the church had upheld bans on same-sex marriage and the inclusion of homosexual pastors.
Karen Oliveto, the first openly gay Bishop in the United Methodist Church, spoke out about the divisions within the church last year. In an interview with CBS News Colorado, she expressed concern about the segment of the church that was leaving due to their opposition to inclusivity, stating, “They’re building a church based on who they’re leaving out. And you have to wonder: If you’re building a church on how you are leaving out, are you letting Jesus in?” Despite her election being declared invalid after she came out in 2017, Oliveto remains in office in the Mountain Sky region, which covers Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. In April 2024, she also spoke out against the UMC Book of Discipline’s description of homosexuality as “incompatible with Christian teaching,” a stance that has since been removed.
The mass exodus of over one million members from the United Methodist Church highlights the deep-rooted divisions within the denomination regarding issues of sexuality and inclusivity. As the church grapples with the aftermath of this significant loss, it faces the challenge of reconciling its evolving stance on homosexuality with the beliefs and values held by its diverse global membership. The future of the United Methodist Church and its ability to maintain unity amidst ongoing theological and social debates remains uncertain in the wake of this unprecedented exodus.
Credit: Dailymail.com
