Gay and lesbian churches near me

This morning however, Oliveto says she arose without that burden, the result of a seismic change in her United Methodist Church. The whole tone here is totally different; people are listening to each other. They're learning from each other across great diversity.

And we're all just celebrating. The change comes at a time of declining membership in the UMC. From tomembership went down from around 8. In addition, the number of congregations that chose to disaffiliate went from 1, in to about 5, in Someone who's gay and lesbian churches near me up in their churches is going to hear a call to ministry and the issue is going to come back and they're going to have to rethink where they are on this matter.

Ryan Warner: Obviously, there were queer clergy serving; you're living proof. But you were doing so in the eyes of the church, I suppose, illegitimately. What does this mean to you and what does this mean for you? Bishop Karen Oliveto: Right. We all took great risks in order to live out our call in the church.

I had my call to ministry when I was 11 years old, and the church suddenly made that call conditional. So for 42 years that I've been ordained, I have lived every single morning, I've woken up and worried, "Is this the day the church will strip me of my ordination?

I woke up this morning and didn't carry that burden. For all of us who are queer, this is a great time of celebration and affirmation, knowing that we could bring our full selves into ministry to care for the people that we are entrusted with. Warner: You spoke with me about five years ago, after the last general conference, and the ban on gay clergy had been upheld.

What changed between then and this vote, which was overwhelming, like 93 percent? Bishop Oliveto: 93 percent. What happened was there was some parliamentary maneuvering that took the church in such an unexpected and ugly direction. And it not only reaffirmed anti-gay stuff, it tightened it.

It even created further anti-gay legislation. Well, the church rebelled. People said, "I don't recognize this church. This isn't the church that raised me, that taught me about God's love and that Jesus loves everybody. People came here ready to reclaim the church. Warner: I want to note that membership in the United Methodist Church, the third largest in the United States, has been declining.

From toit's down from about 8. The number of church elders has declined by more than half. Most recently, it's thought there are two reasons.

MCC of the Rockies

One is the pandemic and the other is this controversy. One study says 1, congregations disaffiliated inclose to 5, in Is it all harmony and roses? And in the Mountain Sky Area, we lost 38 churches.