The fight for LGBTQ+ inclusion in major mainline Protestant denominations in the U.S. has been ongoing for the past half-century, reflecting the broader struggle for acceptance in society. The United Methodist Church recently removed its bans on same-sex marriage and gay clergy, following in the footsteps of other denominations like the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This process has caused deep rifts within these moderate-to-progressive Protestant groups, leading to hurt feelings, broken relationships, disciplinary trials, and schisms.
In the 1970s, the United Methodist Church and the Episcopal Church had their first public debates on homosexuality, with the UMC declaring the practice incompatible with Christian teaching and the Episcopal Church stating it was not appropriate to ordain practicing homosexuals. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) banned noncelibate gay clergy in 1996, and the federal Defense of Marriage Act limited federal recognition of marriage to heterosexual couples that same year. The Anglican Church in North America was formed in 2009 by a breakaway group of mostly former Episcopalians who disagreed with the decision to allow an openly gay bishop.
The 2010s saw further progress in LGBTQ+ inclusion within these denominations, with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America allowing partnered gay and lesbian pastors in 2009 and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ratifying an amendment to open the door to LGBTQ clergy in 2011. The United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015, leading to changes in church policies as well. The Episcopal Church permitted any couple the rite of matrimony, while the United Methodist Church elected its first openly lesbian bishop in 2016.
In the 2020s, further strides were made in LGBTQ+ representation in the church, with Megan Rohrer becoming the first openly transgender bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2021. The Global Methodist Church, a breakaway group from the United Methodist Church, was launched in 2022 over disagreements on the enforcement of bans on gay clergy and same-sex marriage. In 2024, the United Methodists finally dismantled their anti-LGBTQ+ policies and teachings, including lifting bans on same-sex marriage and gay clergy. This move marks a significant turning point in the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ inclusion within major mainline Protestant denominations in the U.S.
The fight for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church has been a long and arduous one, marked by deep divisions, hurt feelings, and broken relationships within major mainline Protestant denominations in the U.S. While progress has been made over the past five decades, with various denominations lifting bans on same-sex marriage and gay clergy, the road to full acceptance and equality for LGBTQ+ individuals in the church is still ongoing. The dismantling of anti-LGBTQ+ policies and teachings within the United Methodist Church in 2024 represents a significant milestone in this journey, but challenges and disagreements still remain within these denominations. The fight for LGBTQ+ inclusion continues to shape the identity and future of these major mainline Protestant bodies in the U.S.
