United Methodist Church moves closer to enabling regional decisions, paving the way for LGBTQ rights within church
CBSN
United Methodist delegates have overwhelmingly endorsed a constitutional amendment seen by advocates as a way of defusing debates over the role of LGBTQ people in the church by giving rule-making autonomy to each region of the international church.
Delegates voted 586-164 on Thursday for the "regionalization" proposal on the third day of their 11-day General Conference, the legislative body of the United Methodist Church, meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The plan would create multiple regional conferences — one for the United States and others covering areas ranging from the Philippines to Europe to Africa.
Two women were found dead and a 5-year-old girl critically injured at a park near Clovis, New Mexico, authorities said Sunday, as the FBI vowed to bring justice following what it called "horrific acts." Meanwhile, police said they are searching for an abducted 10-month-old girl, who is the daughter of one of the victims. No suspect has been identified yet in the case.