The fight to allow same-sex marriage and gay clergy has defined much of the last half-century for major mainline Protestant denominations in the U.S. Within these theologically moderate-to-progressive Protestant groups, the decades of wrestling over whether to reaffirm or overturn longstanding anti-LGBTQ+ church policies sowed deep divisions.

When the United Methodist Church removed anti-gay language from its official rules last week, it marked the end of a half-century of debates over LGBTQ inclusion in America's mainline Protestant denominations.

United Methodist delegates have repealed their church’s longstanding ban on the celebrations of same-sex marriages or unions by its clergy.

United Methodist delegates have repealed their church’s longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy with no debate.

United Methodist delegates have begun making historic policy changes on sexuality, voting without debate to reverse a series of anti-LGBTQ policies.

The United Methodist Church lost one-fourth of its U.S. churches in a recent schism, with conservatives departing over disputes on sexuality and theology.

Reaction among Catholics around the world is sharply divided over the Vatican's recent declaration giving priests more leeway to bless same-sex couples.

More than 6,000 United Methodist congregations have now received permission to leave the denomination amid a schism over theology and the role of LGBTQ people.

Thousands of United Methodist congregations have been voting on whether to stay or quit one of the nation’s largest denominations amid intractable debates over theology and the role of LGBTQ people.

Many residents in one of the Mississippi towns hit hardest by devastating tornadoes have found solace in their church communities Sunday.

Cities and nonprofits are using a variety of strategies to keep unhoused people warm. But some organizations warn they’re already at capacity as El Paso sends migrants across the state.

The United Methodist Church moved toward becoming more progressive and LGBTQ-affirming during U.S. regional meetings this month.

The United Methodist Church, long a mainstay of the American religious scene, is beginning to fracture.

The pastor of Pattison United Methodist Church recently saved a member of her congregation who was in the middle of a diabetic emergency.

The United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops had ended a five-day meeting acknowledging the inevitable breakup of their denomination.

A group of theologically conservative United Methodists plans to launch a new worldwide denomination on May 1.

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, is expected to speak during a discussion with the Anti-Defamation League on Thursday at noon.

Biltmore United Methodist Church of Asheville, North Carolina, is for sale.

In Houston’s historic Third Ward, what has been called a daycare desert by some, Trinity United Methodist Church is one of nine churches throughout Texas that will be offering low-cost, and in some cases, no-cost-subsidized daycare for children ages 8 weeks to 5 years old.

As the Boy Scouts of America moves through its complex bankruptcy case, it’s encountering criticism from major religious groups that help it run thousands of scout units.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church, a denomination that says it has "justice in its DNA,” has launched its General Conference.

HOUSTON – St. Luke’s United Methodist Church is hosting a vigil in memory of the more than 500,000 Americans who lost their lives to the coronavirus. Church members honored those lives with 500 luminarias placed on the front lawn of both Westheimer and Gethsemane campuses. On Friday, the Westheimer campus located at 3471 Westheimer in Houston will have the final vigil from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.“Lent is a time when the church comes face-to-face with our own mortality, and the COVID-19 pandemic made this reality unavoidable. During this season of Lent, we are devastated by the loss of more than 500,000 lives to this virus and want to honor the memories of those who passed with 500 luminarias lit around the front lawn of the church,” the church stated. The community is free to come to walk among the luminarias to pray, reflect, and keep the memories of those we lost this year alive.

FILE - In this April 19, 2019 file photo, a gay pride rainbow flag flies along with the U.S. flag in front of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Prairie Village, Kan. Conservative leaders within the United Methodist Church unveiled plans Monday, March 1, 2021 to form a new denomination, the Global Methodist Church, with a doctrine that does not recognize same-sex marriage. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)Conservative leaders within the United Methodist Church unveiled plans Monday to form a new denomination, the Global Methodist Church, with a doctrine that does not recognize same-sex marriage. Keith Boyette, a Methodist elder from Virginia who chairs the Global Methodist initiative, said he and his allies do not want to wait that long to formally leave the UMC. The most prominent plan, the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, has some high-level support, including from the Council of Bishops and from the Global Methodist group. Formed in a merger in 1968, the United Methodist Church claims about 12.6 million members worldwide, including nearly 7 million in the United States, second to only the Southern Baptist Convention among U.S. Protestant denominations.

For more information: click here. For more information: click here. For the St. Luke’s event, you will be in your car. For more information about St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, click here. For more information: click here.

Thats how students enrolled in the landmark, Sanctuaries of Learning program began their first day of school in the Third Ward Tuesday. As part of the program by the United Methodist Church, 14 different Houston-area churches have been converted into virtual learning centers so about 800 Houston Independent School District students will have a place to learn virtually while their parents go back to work. Created specifically to help working parents by providing laptop computers, a powerful WiFi signal and even meals, the program completely free for the students in attendance. Thats when she found out about Sanctuaries of Learning through her sons elementary school. HISD elementary school students are eligible for this program and to register, call your school office and ask for the Turn-Around Specialist.

(CNN) -- With social distancing in full effect across the world, many Christians' Easter Sunday traditions have been shaken up. But no worries -- an Easter Sunday service is still possible for those searching. Roman Catholic ChurchPope Francis will be live-streaming his Easter Sunday Mass service on YouTube. But the most star-studded service occurs at 8 p.m. EST, when Osteen will be joined by singer Mariah Carey and filmmaker Tyler Perry. Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA)The Presbyterian Church USA, the largest Presbyterian denomination in the US, has already posted a 37-minute Easter worship service, "so that we might come together in virtual community on this holiest of days," the website says.