COLUMBIA, S.C. — In recent days, the United Methodist Church in the United States said it may consider splitting into two denominations over the issue of LGBTQ marriage, clergy, and overall inclusion in the United Methodist Church.
In May of this year, the United Methodist Church will consider a split into a more traditional branch and a branch of the church accepting of LGBTQ clergy and marriages.
Washington Street Senior Minister Patricia Parrish said it's a complex process.
“Our church cannot split or take any action until the General Conference of 2020. Only the General Conference can make decisions for the whole church,” Parrish said.
At the conference, delegates from across the country will decide the future of the United Methodist Church.
Parrish said the last time the Church split, it was over the issue of slavery. The separation eventually reconciled, but Parrish said she's not sure what will happen this summer.
“Jesus' prayer is that the Church would be one. And I think the prayer for all Christians is that we would be united in faith and hope and love and mission and service,” Parrish said.
If the Church were to split, which is still unknown, each individual congregation would decide what to do next in a process which could take years. The proposed split would allow for financial ties to linger for four years before final separation, according to Parrish.
The United Methodist Church is not the first to deal with the issue of LGBTQ inclusion. Other denominations of Christianity like Lutherans, Presbyterians, and others have had contentious debate and even splits over the issue.
Roman Catholicism has also dealt with sometimes fierce internal debate over the future of LGBTQ Catholics and their integration.
“We all want to be able to fulfill our calling to be loving and serving as God calls us, but not at the expense of our conscience,” Parrish said.
Last year, Washington Street United Methodist Church's membership council joined Reconciling Ministries Network. The Network publicly pushes for the inclusion of LGBTQ members in the full rights and membership of Methodist churches.
At the moment, Washington Street continues to follow the Book of Discipline. The Book of Discipline, which prohibits LGBT clergy and marriages, is the written framework for the United Methodist Church.
It has faced many social issues over the years including slavery, women’s rights, civil rights, and now LGBTQ issues and marriage equality. The General Conference meets every four years to consider changes to the Book.