Methodist Church to breakup over gay marriage and LGBT clergy

Having failed to reach an agreement on the issue of same sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy, the United Methodist Church's bishops and leaders have proposed to split into numerous denominations.

According to the CNN, the proposal was initiated by a 16-member group of bishops and church leaders who believes a separation was "the best means to resolve our differences, allowing each part of the Church to remain true to its theological understanding, while recognizing the dignity, equality, integrity, and respect of every person."

A general conference held last year in the US aimed to reinforce the church's stance against ordaining gay clergy and performing same-sex weddings.

New York Conference Bishop Thomas Bickerton, part of the group behind the proposal, told the official United Methodist News Service that heated debate at the conference demonstrated "the line in the sand had turned into a canyon."

"The impasse is such that we have come to the realization that we just can't stay that way any longer," he said.

As it stands, the church's stakeholders can't see a way forward other than the proposed split as some want to support the idea of same sex marriage and ordination LGBT clergy while others clearly do not - the traditionalist Methodist denomination

The Rev. Keith Boyette, president of the traditionalist Wesleyan Covenant Association, called the separation plan "a fair and equitable solution that puts decades of conflict behind us and gives us a hopeful future," according to the news service.

The church's worldwide conference in May would need to approve the historic restructuring.