Pro-LGBTQ church breaks away from the United Methodist Church

Asbury Memorial Church in Savannah, Ga.
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The Asbury Memorial Church in Savannah has officially become the first church in Georgia to disaffiliate from the national United Methodist Church due to the growing rift between pro- and anti-LGBTQ people in the Protestant denomination.

“It is believed that Asbury Memorial is the first church in the USA to leave the United Methodist denomination due to its unequal treatment of LGBTQ people,” the church said in a statement.

Related: LGBTQ Methodists were stuck loving a church that didn’t love them back. Sound familiar?

Asbury Memorial had voted for this decision in light of the UMC’s controversial decision in February 2019 to reinforce its “Traditional Plan” in all churches. In part, the “Traditional Plan” includes denouncing same-sex relationships as “incompatible with Christian teaching,” which has been part of the church’s doctrine since 1972.

Following the decision, Asbury Memorial voted overwhelmingly in favor of leaving the United Methodist Church – 309 congregants to 7 – last September, before the “reinforcement” went into effect this January.

On August 15 of this year, the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church met virtually and voted in favor of Asbury’s disaffiliation.

“Asbury Memorial has always been a welcoming, all-inclusive congregation and we are excited about our future as an independent non-denominational church,” Senior Minister Rev. Billy Hester has said. “Our worship and ethos will…

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