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A Greenville County church is applauding a decision by the United Methodist Church to repeal a ban on LGBTQ+ clergy and prohibit penalties on same-sex marriage. The church's General Conference on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to approve the changes. The Rev. Rusty Godfrey, the pastor of Lee Road United Methodist Church in Taylors, said he is happy and pleased with the conference's vote. "I've been in much prayer for this convention that this would be the moment when the United Methodist Church would realize that God's love is for all people, not just for some," he said. Church delegates from around the world also voted to prevent regional leaders from penalizing clergy members who ordain a same-sex marriage. "Prior to this conference, if I wished to officiate for a gay marriage, then I could be sanctioned. I could lose my ability to preach," Godfrey said.The changes come after some congregations separated from the United Methodist Church to join the Global Methodist Church over issues of human sexuality.Church members are also celebrating the changes, including Chandler Silvers, who got engaged to her fiancé last year. "It's pretty overwhelming for me," she said. "It means that my life, we can move forward, and I can be married by a preacher of my faith and that means a lot to me."Her fellow churchgoers are also applauding the new direction. "Because I think it's the right thing to do," church member Laurie Fite said. "We are not here to judge other people. We're here to love other people."For Silvers, the new direction reassures her that her faith lines up with who she is. "I'm hoping that it will open some people's eyes that may be closed-minded to me, that don't know me," she said, "but now, this is like a huge way. Like, you don't have to know me personally, but you kind of get a glimpse of my life, and that my church is accepting of me."Godfrey said the rule changes take effect when the church's General Conference wraps up on Friday.
TAYLORS, S.C. — A Greenville County church is applauding a decision by the United Methodist Church to repeal a ban on LGBTQ+ clergy and prohibit penalties on same-sex marriage. The church's General Conference on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to approve the changes. The Rev. Rusty Godfrey, the pastor of Lee Road United Methodist Church in Taylors, said he is happy and pleased with the conference's vote. "I've been in much prayer for this convention that this would be the moment when the United Methodist Church would realize that God's love is for all people, not just for some," he said. Church delegates from around the world also voted to prevent regional leaders from penalizing clergy members who ordain a same-sex marriage. "Prior to this conference, if I wished to officiate for a gay marriage, then I could be sanctioned. I could lose my ability to preach," Godfrey said. The changes come after some congregations separated from the United Methodist Church to join the Global Methodist Church over issues of human sexuality. Church members are also celebrating the changes, including Chandler Silvers, who got engaged to her fiancé last year. "It's pretty overwhelming for me," she said. "It means that my life, we can move forward, and I can be married by a preacher of my faith and that means a lot to me." Her fellow churchgoers are also applauding the new direction. "Because I think it's the right thing to do," church member Laurie Fite said. "We are not here to judge other people. We're here to love other people." For Silvers, the new direction reassures her that her faith lines up with who she is. "I'm hoping that it will open some people's eyes that may be closed-minded to me, that don't know me," she said, "but now, this is like a huge way. Like, you don't have to know me personally, but you kind of get a glimpse of my life, and that my church is accepting of me." Godfrey said the rule changes take effect when the church's General Conference wraps up on Friday.