re: Why have churches started allowing gay preachers?

There are good articles out there explaining the history of this. The opposition was fueled by African and Asian congregations, which must have been ironic to the UMC missionaries that seeded those congregations.

After several years of stalemate on LGBTQ issues, an agreement was made for the orderly exit of conservative congregations. It’s complicated because of church property and clergy pension issues. But that occurred over the last couple of years. Hence the votes this week.

My church voted to stay in UMC so a lot of people left for other churches. But a lot of new people have joined and church numbers and finances are about the same as before. I don’t like the new vote and will probably find a new home, but the vote isn’t the primary factor. The UMC rules about moving pastors around are tiresome with us on our 3rd in 5 years.

I think it’s just a sorting process that will take some time. I think the general trend of the decline of organized religion in western culture is the issue. The developing world is where the energy is at for Christianity.