Seminary’s Biblical Marriage Stance Has it Removed from Denomination’s List of Approved Schools
asbury Theological Seminary, located in Wilmore, Kentucky, has been removed from the list of approved schools for ordination by the United Methodist Church. This decision followed the church’s 2024 relaxation of restrictions on same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy ordination, which asbury Seminary stated conflicts with its doctrinal beliefs and Christian witness.The seminary emphasized its commitment to conventional marriage and biblical teachings, maintaining that its theological standards remain unchanged despite the church’s new social principles. Although the church approved Asbury for education since 1981, the seminary highlighted that the removal was a unilateral decision by the UMC, asserting that they upheld clarity and doctrinal honesty throughout the process.The UMC’s recent policies affirm the respect and dignity of all persons regardless of sexual orientation but emphasize marriage as between one man and one woman, aligning with Asbury Seminary’s stance.Moving forward, students affiliated with the UMC will be grandfathered into the ordination process, and the seminary reaffirmed its enduring commitment to orthodox christian teachings within the Wesleyan tradition.
Asbury Theological Seminary announced that they were removed from the United Methodist Church’s list of approved schools for ordination.
The school, which is based in Wilmore, Kentucky, noted that the decision of the United Methodist Church’s University Senate came after the denomination nixed restrictions on so-called same-sex marriage and ordination of self-described LGBT clergy in 2024.
Asbury said in a statement that those new stances “are not aligned with Asbury Theological Seminary’s institutional ethos and the historic witness of the Christian faith.”
“We affirm marriage as sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union for life, as delineated in Scripture, and provides the sole context for sexual intimacy, helping to ensure the blessings of that relationship as God intended,” Asbury made clear.
The United Methodist Church had approved Asbury for educating their aspiring ministers in 1981.
Asbury said the removal of their name from the list of approved schools “reflects a determination made by the UMC rather than a d resolution.”
“We engaged fully and faithfully in the process and honored every request from the Senate in a timely manner. We were forthcoming with the requested documents and information,” their statement continued.
— Protestia (@Protestia) June 26, 2026
“Throughout the process, we were honest and clear about our doctrinal and ethical standards, even when those differed from the recently amended Social Principles of the UMC.”
“Their final decision to delist us was unilateral,” Asbury continued. “While we had hoped for a different outcome, our focus remains steadfast on our unchanging calling.”
The official website for the United Methodist Church says that the 2024 General Conference approved “a series of affirmations and agreements about how all persons will be treated with respect to their sexuality or gender identity.”
The denomination affirms sexuality as “a sacred gift and acknowledge that sexual intimacy contributes to fostering the emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being of individuals” — a standard they claim to apply “to all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Students affiliated with the United Methodist Church who will begin courses in the fall of 2026 will be grandfathered into the ordination process.
Asbury said that roughly 9 percent of their current student body are affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
“Our theological commitments, including our commitment to Scripture, remain unchanged,” the statement continued.
“As an independent, multi-denominational seminary in the Wesleyan tradition, we have remained steadfast for more than a century in teaching the unchanging truth of orthodox Christianity. Our mission and values are the same today as they have been for more than a century.”
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