United Methodist Church fears schism over sexuality (Twitpic/gaynownews)

As states across the country continue voting to increase the nationwide spread of same sex marriage, the debate over homosexuality in the Church is becoming increasingly contentious. 

With 12.5 million members globally and 7.6 million members nationally, people are becoming increasingly fearful of the possibility of schism within the Church over irrconcilable differences of opinion regarding sexuality and other key issues.

“We can no longer talk about schism as something that might happen in the future. Schism has already taken place in our connection,” Rev. Maxie Dunnam told the Huffington Post. 

On Friday, however, several hundred Methodist pastors approved “A Way Forward.” 

This proposal calls for the church to remain unified and respectful of differences over the issue. In granting individual churches and regions the ability to take their own stances about same sex marriage and gay clergy members, the pastors are hoping to allow people the freedom to grow and reform their religious positions as needed to keep up with the ever-changing world. 

"Others may feel different, but the real issues that Jesus called us to confront are feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and not necessarily this issue,” Rev. John Hill, the senior pastor of a 2,700-member Methodist Church in Melbourne, Fla. told USA Today. “It's maybe important but not essential."

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