In Denver, Methodist churches question their futures after LGBTQ ban

Adama Brown-Hathasway, left, The Rev. Dr. Jay Williams, both from Boston, and Ric Holladay of Kentucky join in prayer during the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Mo., on Tuesday. America’s second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting voted to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy.

Sid Hastings/Associated Press

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Adama Brown-Hathasway, left, The Rev. Dr. Jay Williams, both from Boston, and Ric Holladay of Kentucky join in prayer during the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Mo., on Tuesday. America’s second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting voted to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy.

Sid Hastings/Associated Press

In a narrow vote in St. Louis on Tuesday, United Methodist Church leaders banned same-sex marriages and members of the LGBTQ community from being ordained.

In Denver, the Iliff School of Theology is uncertain about its future.

“We have some reflection to do and it’s hard to project this on the first day after that decision,” said the Rev. Thomas Wolfe, president and CEO of Iliff. “There will be lots of conversations going forward as both the church adjusts to this, deals with this, and as Iliff contemplates its own future.”

Wolfe said 30 percent of Iliff students identify as members of the LGBTQ community and his main concern is how those students will be restricted from dedicating their lives to the church.

Read the rest of this story at Colorado Public Radio.