Pro-Life United Methodists

Pro-Life United Methodists Celebrate a New Direction for their Church

on January 12, 2018

Institute on Religion and Democracy Press Release
January 12, 2018
Contact: Jeff Walton Office: 202-682-4131, Cell: 202-413-5639, E-mail: jwalton@TheIRD.org

“It is exciting to see America’s second-largest Protestant denomination, the United Methodist Church, moving away from earlier support for abortion towards historic Christian pro-life values.”
-John Lomperis, IRD UMAction Director

Washington, DC—United Methodists and others attending the annual March for Life are invited to join together for a special worship service hosted on the morning of the March.

IRD will join Lifewatch, the unofficial pro-life caucus of the United Methodist Church, and other pro-life Methodists at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, January 19, at the United Methodist Building located at 100 Maryland Avenue in Washington, D.C. next to the United States Supreme Court. The Rev. Dr. David F. Watson, professor of New Testament and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH, will give the sermon.

America’s second-largest Protestant denomination has gradually moved in a more pro-life direction. Delegates to the United Methodist Church’s 2016 General Conference repealed 40-year-old language affirming the Roe v. Wade court decision that struck down state laws restricting abortion. General Conference delegates also mandated that church agencies end decades of affiliation with an interfaith coalition that opposes all abortion restrictions.

IRD UMAction Director and General Conference delegate John Lomperis commented:

“It is exciting to see America’s second-largest Protestant denomination, the United Methodist Church, moving away from earlier support for abortion towards historic Christian pro-life values.

“Our denomination is helpfully moving away from the other liberal, so-called ‘mainline’ Protestant denominations to embrace a new global, faithful identity.”

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  1. Comment by Janice Beck on January 12, 2018 at 10:38 pm

    Given the mass exodus of members from UMC to other Bible believing denominations, I would say it is time. ” . . . better a mill stone be tied around their necks and thrown into the sea . . . “

  2. Comment by Steven Atkinson on January 13, 2018 at 8:40 pm

    I’m a member of the United Methodist Church in Tracyton, Washington. I support pro-life position in our church.

  3. Comment by Rev. Gary Allred on January 14, 2018 at 9:17 am

    I do wish the UMC Council of Bishops and the General Church would make a positive statement about this.

  4. Comment by Sharon Wilson on January 16, 2018 at 2:51 pm

    This is a positive news. It has been very difficult for me to remain a member of the UMC, with all their liberal views. Hopefully, this will be a worldwide change for us.

  5. Comment by Betty davis on January 17, 2018 at 5:59 am

    Maybe go back to old ways. Maybe go back to the Bible. Never Murder a unborn baby. Never man-man. Never Woman-Woman.

  6. Comment by Debra Deyo on April 8, 2019 at 9:03 am

    I’m still planning on leaving UMC due to the constant battle by lgbtq and liberal leadership that is unwilling to make strong stances against sexual immorality and the consequences: abortion, gay marriage and people living together outside of holy matrimony! It’s become an apostate Church! Even though this article encourages me about the Pro-life movement for the denomination, the constant onslaught and ground that has already been lost to the lgbtq agenda is deafening the authority of the Bible! Jesus said to beware of false prophets that come claiming to be in Him! But UMC has already been consumed by false doctrines related to what the Bible has said regarding homosexuality! Completely sad that in this latest vote conservatives only beat out the Apostasy by 53-46! That means in the US lgbtq voices and opinions are too close for comfort for me!

  7. Comment by Brenda on April 30, 2019 at 8:18 am

    We left the denomination about 16 years ago because an openly gay pastor had been placed in the church. The denomination turned a blind eye to it. Even though they have now reaffirmed their stance toward traditional marriage, as a rule they are not unified on multiple issues. We encourage others who want to hear a clear biblical message to find another denomination such as PCA. The PCA has held fast to the scriptures and will not bend.

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