The Rev. Jerry Kulah, of Liberia, leads a prayer outside the Charlotte Convention Center, in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, May 2, 2024, at a gathering of African delegates where he decried a vote by the General Conference of the United Methodist Church that replaced its definition of marriage with one that doesn't limit marriage to a heterosexual couple. He said the denomination is contradicting the Bible's teaching. (AP Photo/Peter Smith)
David Meredith, middle, hugs fellow observers after an approval vote at the United Methodist Church General Conference Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. United Methodist delegates repealed their church’s longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy with no debate on Wednesday, removing a rule forbidding “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from being ordained or appointed as ministers. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Those in the LGBTQ community and their allies gather outside the Charlotte Convention Center, in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, May 2, 2024, to celebrate after the General Conference of the United Methodist Church voted to remove the denomination's 52-year-old social teaching that deemed homosexuality "incompatible with Christian teaching." (AP Photo/Peter Smith)
Angie Cox, left, and Joelle Henneman hug after an approval vote at the United Methodist Church General Conference Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. United Methodist delegates repealed their church’s longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy with no debate on Wednesday, removing a rule forbidding “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from being ordained or appointed as ministers.(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Michigan Bishop David Bard presides at a session of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Peter Smith)
The Rev. David Meredith, left, and the Rev. Austin Adkinson sing during a gathering of those in the LGBTQ community and their allies outside the Charlotte Convention Center, in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, May 2, 2024. They were celebrating after the General Conference of the United Methodist Church voted to remove the denomination's 52-year-old social teaching that deemed homosexuality "incompatible with Christian teaching." (AP Photo/Peter Smith)
African delegates to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church pray outside the Charlotte Convention Center, in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, May 2, 2024. They gathered to protest the conference vote that replaced the church's definition of marriage with one that doesn't limit marriage to heterosexual couples. (AP Photo/Peter Smith)
A convention goer wears a button supporting LGBTQ clergy at the United Methodist Church General Conference Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. United Methodist delegates repealed their church’s longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy with no debate on Wednesday, removing a rule forbidding “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from being ordained or appointed as ministers. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)