Commonwealth Policy Center

The Methodist landscape in Kentucky—and the world—is dramatically changing. This month the Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church approved the departure of 286 churches. About half of all Kentucky UMC churches have left since 2019. Altogether, over 5,500 United Methodist congregations have left the denomination, largely because the denomination has rejected orthodox beliefs over marriage and sexuality. While some churches are remaining independent, many are joining the Global Methodist Church, a theologically conservative denomination committed to traditional marriage and a biblical sexual ethic. American institutions cannot avoid choosing a side in the LGBTQ revolution, and churches are no exception. A line in the sand over sexual morality has been drawn, and a great many number of Methodist congregations are siding with biblical fidelity.