How the UMC’s Radical Shift Toward LGBTQ+ Inclusion is Changing the Christian Faith
The United Methodist Church’s recent schism may inspire broader LGBTQ+ inclusion everywhere
The UMC’s journey from division to inclusion, and why it matters
In 2024, the United Methodist Church (UMC) made a historic decision that shook Christian communities worldwide: the UMC chose to affirm LGBTQ+ clergy and same-sex marriages.
While it wasn’t the first denomination to make this change—the United Church of Christ, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Quakers had already paved the way—it’s significant because the UMC is one of the largest Protestant denominations in the world.
With over 12 million members globally, the UMC’s shift toward inclusion holds massive weight.
Other denominations, like the United Church of Christ (UCC) or the Episcopal Church, have made strides, but their presence is largely concentrated in the U.S. and certain other regions.
The UMC, by contrast, has millions of members across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, regions where LGBTQ+ rights are often heavily restricted or criminalized.
The UMC has:
Approximately 4.6 million members in Africa, a continent where homosexuality is illegal in many nations—Uganda, for example, still enforces the death penalty for some homosexual acts.
Approximately 4.56 million members in Asia. Countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, and Vietnam all criminalize homosexuality.
The fact that so many UMC congregations live in countries where LGBTQ+ people are under legal duress, illustrates why the denomination's journey toward inclusion was complex, hard-fought — and groundbreaking.
The struggle within the UMC between cultures and beliefs about LGBTQ+ inclusion was not just theological—it was a clash of cultural norms and legal realities across the globe.
The global context: Methodism in a changing world
The cultural and legal divides within the UMC’s global community were a major factor that delayed the church’s decision to move forward.
From 2019 to 2023, congregations were given the opportunity to disaffiliate—meaning they could leave the denomination with their property intact. The deadline for congregations to make their decision was December 31, 2023.
Roughly 25% of U.S. congregations disaffiliated, some joining the newly formed Global Methodist Church, and others leaving to become independent. This disaffiliation might sound bleak at first, but here’s the bright side: 75% remained.
This 75% is deeply committed to the values of equality and inclusion—a major victory in a denomination that had been embroiled in internal division for decades.
At the next General Conference, this smaller, more unified UMC voted 692 to 51 to repeal the 1984 ban on LGBTQ+ clergy and allow Methodist ministers to officiate at same-sex weddings. For a denomination that had suffered painful divisions for the past 40 years, this decision was nothing short of a revolution.
Religious institutions and their power to shape society
It’s no secret that religious institutions have enormous power over societal norms. A 2021 study from Washington University put it this way:
The final study demonstrated that when the United Methodist Church voted to uphold same-sex marriage bans, the relationship between (conservative members) and prejudice became stronger, which suggests that UMC Christians may have felt sanctioned to express their bias because of the institutional decision.
It went on to say,
The church is a strong moral authority with the potential to shape norms and attitudes toward sexual minorities, like court rulings have shifted attitudes on same-sex marriage.
Similarly, a study published in the Journal of Religion and Culture shows how church doctrines and moral frameworks influence followers' perceptions and responses to the LGBTQ+ community. The study found that views ranged from intolerant and condemnatory to more inclusive and accepting, depending on religious interpretations. Once again we see how church doctrines shape community attitudes toward LGBTQ+ rights.
Research in the Journal of Religion and Society explored how affirming and non-affirming church messages affect LGBTQ+ individuals' expectations of acceptance. The study found that inclusive messages and imagery in churches positively influenced congregants’ perceptions of acceptance, highlighting the power of religious institutions in shaping attitudes toward LGBTQ+ inclusion.
When the UMC voted in 1984 to uphold the same-sex marriage bans, it didn’t just influence its followers—it entrenched prejudice, tacitly giving Christians permission to hold and express biases against LGBTQ+ individuals. But the tide has finally turned.
.The UMC’s official embrace in 2024 of LGBTQ+ clergy and same-sex marriages wasn’t just a doctrinal shift. It’s a moral revolution, signaling that the church has learned from its painful past and is ready to live out its core values of love and inclusion.
This decision offers hope for everyone who’s ever been excluded by their faith community, showing that change is possible, even in the most entrenched institutions.
A gentle ministry
The real beauty of this decision lies in the 75% of congregations that chose to stay and fight for inclusion.
These churches will be a beacon of acceptance and love, not just within their congregations, but in their communities as well. Studies like the one at Washington University show that this sort of gentle witness works; stories of real life show how.
Take, for example, a Reddit post I came across about a mother struggling to accept her son’s coming out. Her own religious background taught her to reject her son. When she spoke with colleagues who were members of a progressive church, however, they encouraged her to “keep loving him like you always have.”
This simple but profound support helped reconcile a mother and son. Cultural shifts are made up of these one-on-one revelations.
A future of love and acceptance
The UMC’s shift toward LGBTQ+ inclusion is an inspiring example of how large religious institutions can evolve and lead the way toward a more just, compassionate world.
While the 40-year internal struggle was long and painful, the future is now looking brighter. The UMC’s embrace of inclusion and justice will impact broader society — not only in the U.S. but around the world.
In Romans 13:10, Paul said, “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Even in the face of push-back and division, putting love into the world makes a difference. It can heal, transform, and create a more compassionate world.
The UMC may have lost members and churches during the struggle over LGBTQ+ equality, but those who remain—the 75%—will help lead our world toward a more welcoming, inclusive, and loving future.
For more on how to find true open and affirming congregations — and discern them from the ones who lure people in only to change them — slide over to:
Where Can LGBTQ+ Seekers Find a Truly Open and Affirming Church? (And Avoid the Fake Ones)
The Crisis Facing LGBTQ+ Believers
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