Church leaves United Methodists over abortion, LGBTQ views

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi church has left the United Methodist Church amid clashing views on homosexuality, abortion and the teaching of Islam.

Rev. Mike Childs of the First United Methodist Church of Louisville told the Clarion Ledger that the congregation voted 175-6 Sunday to leave the denomination primarily because they believed the United Methodist Church wasn't "accepting the authority of the Scripture."

The United Methodist Church had allowed a gay bishop to preach and equally affirmed "the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother and the unborn child" in regard to abortion. The United Methodist-rooted Claremont School of Theology has also opened up clerical training to Muslims and Jews, although only the Christian school receives money from the church.

The newspaper couldn't reach the Mississippi United Methodist Conference for comment.

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The Gayly. March 30, 2018. 10:34 a.m. CST.