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As the United Method Church meets for its General Conference in Portland, Oregon — an event that is held once every four years — church leaders continue to deal with a contentious issue that threatens to splinter the denomination: homosexuality.

In a narrow vote of 428-405 on Wednesday, the Council of Bishops — the top policy arm of the nation’s third largest faith group — voted to assess and review current church law on sexuality, the Associated Press reported.

The United Methodist Church’s Book of Discipline, which outlines church regulations, is explicit in noting that marriage is confined to one man and one woman. The official church rules on matrimony read, “We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant that is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman,” with pastors falling under strict guidelines.

“While persons set apart by the Church for ordained ministry are subject to all the frailties of the human condition and the pressures of society, they are required to maintain the highest standards of holy living in the world,” the rules read. “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.”

Rather than immediately consider current proposals for LGBT inclusion — proposals that would require changes to the Book of Discipline — the denomination’s vote means a commission will be setup to explore the United Methodist Church’s rules on marriage and sexuality over the next two years in an effort to address the ongoing battle over homosexuality, according to the AP.

LGBTQ advocates were reportedly content over the decision, as it buys more time for clergy who have ignored denominational rules and continue to wed gay couples, while conservatives were left disappointed that the Methodist church isn’t standing by what they see as clear biblical teaching on gender and sexuality, the New York Times reported.

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http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2016/05/...r-gay-marriage/

Did you know that in the early days of the abortion controversy the offices of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (first name of NARAL) were housed in the Methodist Hdqts in DC? I have met a number of Methodist who are orthodox and dedicated to the original Christian principles on which the Church was established. But in the last century Methodism developed a strong "progressive' strain (much like the hapless Episcopalians). I expect changes in the rules and a subsequent split.