ST. LOUIS — The United Methodist Church, America's second-largest Protestant denomination, faces a likely surge in defections and acts of defiance after delegates at a crucial conference voted Tuesday to strengthen the faith's divisive bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy.
United Methodist delegates reject recognizing gay marriage
Church faces likely surge in defections, acts of defiance
![](https://statesboroherald.cdn-anvilcms.net/media/images/2019/02/27/images/Methodists1.max-1200x675.jpg)
![Methodists1.jpg](https://statesboroherald.cdn-anvilcms.net/media/images/2019/02/27/images/Methodists1.max-752x423.jpg)
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