United Methodist Church, America's 2nd-largest Protestant denomination, faces a likely surge in defections and acts of defiance after delegates rejected a move to ease the faith's ban on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. - NBCOUT
, defeated a proposal that would have let regional and local church bodies decide for themselves on gay-friendly policies.
If the bans were eased,"the church in Africa would cease to exist," said the Rev. Jerry Kulah of Liberia."We can't do anything but to support the Traditional Plan — it is the biblical plan." Many supporters of the more liberal plan stood in support as Berlin spoke. Some wore rainbow-motif garments or sat behind rainbow banners.
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