LGBTQ Debate: Elmhurst Church Leaves Conference

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst Methodist church is leaving its national conference, part of an exodus of churches opposed to a greater role for the LGBTQ community.

Faith Evangelical United Methodist Church is among eight in northern Illinois that have ended their longtime affiliation with the United Methodists, the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church announced Tuesday.

The local church couldn't be reached for immediate comment.

In 2019, the national conference decided to allow churches to leave the denomination because of a decades-long conflict over the role and status of LGBTQ people, the Northern Illinois group said in a news release.

The conference said in the news release, "At this time, the Book of Discipline, which contains the denomination’s policies and procedures, prohibits the ordination of 'self-avowed, practicing homosexuals' and disallows clergy from conducting marriages of same-sex couples (churches are also prohibited from hosting such marriages)."

The key words are "at this time." It appears the national conference is moving toward more flexibility on marriage and ordination issues.

According to the news release, Northern Illinois Conference members said, "We part with mercy."

In a story earlier this year, Christianity Day reported that an estimated 6 percent of churches were leaving the denomination.

The churches exiting in northern Illinois are in Stockton, McConnell, Fenton, Plano, Freeport and Elgin.

Earlier this year, 18 churches in the area expressed interest in ending their affiliation. They have until Dec. 31 to do so, according to the conference.

This is the first time the national conference has provided a way for churches to leave the denomination with their property.