The denomination held its first general conference. “This is a new chapter marked by a commitment to faithfulness, integrity, and unity”.

Decisions such as ending the ban on performing same-sex marriages, or the ordination of LGTBQI+ people, could lead more people to abandon the Methodist churches, which suffered a schism in 2019.

The decision was taken at a special online session with 40 votes in favour, 20 against and 2 abstentions. It won’t be finalized until 2025.

The United Methodist Church is expected to split in the 2022 General Conference over the issue of sexuality and marriage. Conservatives are laying the foundations for the new Global Methodist Church.

The United Methodist Church proposes to create a new “traditionalist Methodist” denomination, as leaders say it is “the best means to resolve our differences”.

Conservative delegates from the Global South helped stop the US-majority push to approve gay marriage. Liberal churches expected to leave the denomination.

111 United Methodist Church leaders in the USA come out as “Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning and Intersex” and sign a letter asking for full recognition just before the General Conference in Portland (Oregon).