INDIANAPOLIS — Outside North United Methodist Church it says "Gods Doors Are Open To All." But in St. Louis over the weekend, the delegates from America's second largest Protestant denomination voted 438 to 384 to strengthen the faith's ban on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy.
That vote hurt 71-year-old, Phil Roth, who worships at North United Methodist and lives with his life partner, Jim Rang, on the east side.
"I was extremely sad and offered a prayer to God saying 'help us be discerning about this. Help us find our way through this so all people can find you,'" Roth said.
Back at his church vestibule there are signs that say "our family values include you." The vote doesn't necessarily seem to indicate that and Reverend Darren Cushman Wood can't argue against that.
"It is very discouraging to this church to hear that news. We have always maintained our compliance with the Book of Discipline. We have actively sought to make our church more inclusive," Reverend Wood said. "This sends a very negative message to my congregation."
Some believe that vote could be a prelude to churches breaking away from the denomination.
"Some of the cultures that make up Methodism is still gonna view the Bible as the infallible word of God," Reverend Charles Harrison said. "If that's the case any change in the discipline is gonna lead to a split in the church."
Remember Roth and his partner? Rang thinks the church should adjust.
"Religion needs to adapt to these changes," Rang said.
Rev. Cushman Wood is going to preach about this issue in sermon on Sunday, as the congregation is still trying to grip with what happened.
