Mennonites Break With Germantown Church That Accepts Gay Members

The Eastern District Conference of the Mennonite Church, the local ruling body for the national Mennonite Church, has voted to end its relationship with the Germantown Mennonite Church over the issue of openly welcoming LGBT parishioners. GMC’s pastor, Amy Yoder McGloughlin, tells NewsWorks that the decision was unexpected, but it won’t change the nature of her congregation:

“We need to be sure that a conference understands that we will baptize and welcome into membership anyone that wishes it, regardless of their sexual orientation,” said McGloughlin. “If our position means that we are not part of the conference and, as a result, the Mennonite denomination, then so be it. We are called to welcome all people, and we will continue to do that.”