ST. LOUIS — Deeply divided United Methodist delegates advanced a conservative plan out of committee Monday to maintain the church’s bans on same-sex marriage and gay clergy while dealing a potential setback to those pushing for full LGBT inclusion. The rule book for the second-largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. prohibits same-sex church weddings and “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from serving as ministers. For decades, Methodists have been split on how to address the issue, a division on full display this week during a specially called session of the church’s General Conference here in St. Louis. Whatever happens could lead members and entire congregations to leave the denomination for good. The 864 lay and clergy delegates from around the world morphed into a legislative committee Monday and spent much of the day hashing out the details of competing plans. The Traditional Plan would reinforce the … Continue reading Homosexuals attempted to take over the Methodist Denomination. They Lost, but are not giving up.