Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 27 February 2019
United Methodist delegates reject recognizing gay marriage

By DAVID CRARY and JIM and Presbyterian (U.S.A.)
SALTER churches, have embraced
Associated Press gay-friendly practices, the
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The United Methodist church still bans
Methodist Church, Ameri- them, though acts of defi-
ca's second-largest Protes- ance by pro-LGBT clergy
tant denomination, faces have multiplied. Many
a likely surge in defections have performed same-
and acts of defiance af- sex weddings; others have
ter delegates at a crucial come out as gay or lesbi-
conference voted Tuesday an from the pulpit of their
to strengthen the faith's di- churches.
visive bans on same-sex Enforcement of the bans
marriage and ordination of has been inconsistent; the
LGBT clergy. Traditional Plan aspires to
Emotions were high beef up discipline against
throughout the third and fi- those engaged in defi-
nal day of the UMC's meet- ance.
ing. Some supporters of The Rev. Tim Bagwell, 64,
greater LGBT inclusion were pastor at a UMC church
in tears, while others vented in Macon, Georgia, had
their anger when, midway opposed the Traditional
through the session, dele- Plan and called the out-
gates defeated a proposal come "deeply painful." But
that would have let region- Ed Rowe, left, Rebecca Wilson, Robin Hager and Jill Zundel, react to the defeat of a proposal that he said his church will stay
al and local church bodies would allow LGBT clergy and same-sex marriage within the United Methodist Church at the de- with UMC until at least 2020,
nomination’s 2019 Special Session of the General Conference in St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 26,
decide for themselves on 2019. when the next major con-
gay-friendly policies. Associated Press ference is scheduled. He's
"Devastation," was how hopeful new delegates will
former Methodist pastor place at the conference. ness to us all," said the Rev. two dozen police officers be elected and change
Rebecca Wilson of Detroit The Traditional Plan's suc- Thomas Berlin of Herndon, watched. course to a more inclusive
described her feelings. "As cess was due to an alliance Virginia. He predicted The Rev. Allen Ewing-Mer- church. "I am deeply sad,"
someone who left because of conservatives from the many Methodist church- rill, a pastor from Portland, he said. "The Methodist
I'm gay, I'm waiting for the U.S. and overseas. About goers and some regional Maine, pledged defiance church has always been
church I love to stop bring- 43 percent of the dele- bodies would leave the of the Traditional Plan, mainstream, reaching out
ing more hate." gates were from abroad, church, while others would tweeting: "I will not partici- to people. This sends a dif-
After several more hours of mostly from Africa, and "stay and fight," performing pate in your bigotry, sin & ferent tone ... one of exclu-
debate, the conservatives' overwhelmingly supported same-sex weddings even if violence." An association sion, not inclusion."
proposal, called the Tradi- the LGBT bans. it meant punishment. of Methodist theological The Rev. Scott Hagan, 45, a
tional Plan, was approved If the bans were eased, Many supporters of the schools warned that if the pastor from Bonaire, Geor-
by a vote of 438-384. Op- "the church in Africa would more liberal plan stood in Traditional Plan passes, gia, supported the Tradi-
ponents unsuccessfully cease to exist," said the support as Berlin spoke. the church "will lose an en- tional Plan, saying the liber-
sought to weaken the plan Rev. Jerry Kulah of Liberia. Some wore rainbow-motif tire generation of leaders als' alternative would have
with hostile amendments or "We can't do anything but garments or sat behind in America." Formed in a sent a mixed message.
to prolong the debate past to support the Traditional rainbow banners. After merger in 1968, the United "To have each church —
a mandatory adjournment Plan — it is the biblical plan." the vote, a small group of Methodist Church claims possibly in the same town
time set to accommodate The deep split within the protesters carried a cross about 12.6 million mem- — offering a different per-
a monster truck rally in the church was evident in sev- to the stage at the confer- bers worldwide, including spective and practice
arena. One delegate even eral fiery speeches oppos- ence and sat around it. An- nearly 7 million in the United would surely be confusing
requested an investiga- ing the Traditional Plan. other group of about 200 States. While other main- to the public that comes to
tion into the possibility that "If we bring this virus into people staged a peaceful line Protestant denomina- the church looking for guid-
"vote buying" was taking our church, it will bring ill- sitdown protest while about tions, such as the Episcopal ance," Hagan said.q
Utah closer to joining national alcohol levels for beer

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST opposition at the state of Latter-day Saints has ex- son has argued the bill is gun to stop making lower-
Associated Press House of Representatives. pressed concern that the about commerce rather alcohol products, leaving
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah "We still have a ways to go," increase is too high. Most than alcohol. shelves emptier and hurt-
lawmakers moved closer said Kate Bradshaw, a lob- lawmakers are members of "It's a reminder that it is pos- ing rural Utah stores that
Tuesday to adopting alco- byist with the Responsible the faith that teaches ab- sible to overstate the influ- depend on beer revenue,
hol levels for beer that are Beer Choice Coalition, a stinence from alcohol, and ence the church has on Stevenson has said.
in line with most produc- group of manufacturers, church positions can hold politics," said Damon Cann, "I'm just excited to see us
tion-line brews sold around distributers and sellers who outsized sway. Many local a political science profes- normalize our alcohol a lit-
the country, despite op- support the change. microbreweries also op- sor at Utah State University. tle bit and I think this will be
position from the influential The proposal would in- pose the change. "The church, while clearly good for the state of Utah,"
Mormon church. crease the alcohol limit Still, supporters have in- formidable as a political said Sen. Derek Kitchen, a
The state Senate over- from 3.2 percent to 4.8 cluded businesses like foe, is not invincible." Democrat who identified
whelming passed the mea- percent by weight, which Wal-Mart, and the change As other states like Okla- himself as one of the hand-
sure to raise low alcohol would allow most standard overwhelmingly passed the homa, Colorado and Kan- ful of state senators who
limits on Tuesday, though beers to be sold in the state. state Senate. Republican sas shed similar limitations, drink.q
it's expected to face more The Church of Jesus Christ sponsor Sen. Jerry Steven- large brewers have be-