Methodist Teens Reject Membership Over Church's Anti-LGBTQ Policies

A confirmation class in Omaha, Nebraska is taking a stand against the United Methodist Church’s stance on LGBTQ people.

Earlier this year, the UMC voted by a slight majority to continue opposing same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy. It has already been suggested that the church denomination could split over this disagreement, though nothing has happened yet.

But a group of teenagers in Omaha want to make sure their disagreement with the anti-LGBTQ beliefs is understood.

“Most of us started the confirmation year assuming that we would join the church at the end, but with the action of the general conference in February, we are disappointed about the direction the United Methodist denomination is heading,” one of the members of the confirmation class read from a joint statement.

“We are concerned that if we join at this time, we will be sending a message that we approve of this decision.”

The statement continued on to say how much the teens love their church, and their specific congregation, but that they would each have to decide whether or not to become confirmed at a later time depending on their church’s reaction to the decision to continue carrying an official anti-LGBTQ stance.

“We are not standing just for ourselves. We are standing for every single member of the LGBTQ+ community who is hurting right now. Because we were raised in this church, we believe that if we all stand together as a whole, we can make a difference.”

While the clip below cuts off after the speech is finished, the church’s pastor and the original poster both say the middle schoolers received a standing ovation in response to their decision to stand up for what they believe is right.