United Methodist Church looks at splitting over same-sex marriage

The United Methodist Church is facing a possible split over same-sex marriage.

If it happens, it would be historic, dividing the church into two denominations. One would support gay marriage and one would not.

The proposal came down Friday, and KIRO 7 got a basic understanding from a local reverend telling us what it would mean.

“Our last major split was over slavery,” Rev. Ruth Marston-Bihl, of Trinity United Methodist Church in Ballard, said.

That was a long time ago, and now the church might part ways again.

“There has been a lot of conflict in the church related to LGBTQ personhood,” Marston-Bihl said. “Come time when we’ve tried this for 40 years and we can’t find a solution, maybe we need to go our own separate ways.”

A heated general conference last February is what led leaders to consider and propose parting ways. Fifty-three percent of them wanted to tighten the ban on same-sex marriage, which would have penalized members like Marston-Bihl and some leaders weren’t going to accept that.

“My wife and I got married in January of 2017,” Marston-Bihl said.

She feels the split is the best way forward but still feels disappointed that leaders couldn’t find common ground.

“This moment in time is actually one that brings me a lot of sadness,” Marston-Bihl said. “I never wanted to see this disunity happen.”

If a split happens, she said there’s also hope for what the church could become.

“And so, what I really want the LGBTQ community to know is that there are people who love them so much that they would not compromise on their personhood,” Marston-Bihl said.

Leaders of the church are expected to vote on the proposal in May.

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