{"id":2628626,"date":"2026-07-11T13:40:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T17:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/seminarys-biblical-marriage-stance-has-it-removed-from-denominations-list-of-approved-schools\/"},"modified":"2026-07-11T13:42:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T17:42:31","slug":"seminarys-biblical-marriage-stance-has-it-removed-from-denominations-list-of-approved-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/seminarys-biblical-marriage-stance-has-it-removed-from-denominations-list-of-approved-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Seminary&#8217;s Biblical Marriage Stance Has it Removed from Denomination&#8217;s List of Approved Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fseminarys-biblical-marriage-stance-has-it-removed-from-denominations-list-of-approved-schools%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2628626&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>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&#8217;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 <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >theological standards remain unchanged<\/a> despite the church&#8217;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\u2019s 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&#8217;s stance.Moving forward, students affiliated with the UMC will be grandfathered into the ordination process, and the seminary reaffirmed its enduring commitment to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/authorities-in-britain-are-trying-to-criminalize-christian-street-preaching\/\" title=\"Authorities In Britain Are Criminalizing Christian Street Preaching\">orthodox christian teachings<\/a> within the Wesleyan tradition.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Asbury Theological Seminary announced that they were removed from the United Methodist Church\u2019s list of approved schools for ordination.<\/p>\n<p>The school, which is based in Wilmore, Kentucky, noted that the decision of the United Methodist Church\u2019s University Senate came after the denomination nixed restrictions on so-called same-sex marriage and ordination of self-described LGBT clergy in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Asbury said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/asburyseminary.edu\/news\/asbury-theological-seminary-addresses-recent-united-methodist-church-decision\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statement<\/a> that those new stances \u201care not aligned with Asbury Theological Seminary\u2019s institutional ethos and the historic witness of the Christian faith.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe 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,\u201d Asbury made clear.<\/p>\n<p>The United Methodist Church had approved Asbury for educating their aspiring ministers in 1981.<\/p>\n<p>Asbury said the removal of their name from the list of approved schools \u201creflects a determination made by the UMC rather than a d resolution.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe 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,\u201d their statement continued.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"zxx\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Pe7gDbJDpf\">https:\/\/t.co\/Pe7gDbJDpf<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Protestia (@Protestia) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Protestia\/status\/2070441998427787471?\">June 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThroughout 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTheir final decision to delist us was unilateral,\u201d Asbury continued. \u201cWhile we had hoped for a different outcome, our focus remains steadfast on our unchanging calling.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.umc.org\/en\/content\/ask-the-umc-what-is-the-churchs-position-on-homosexuality\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a> for the United Methodist Church says that the 2024 General Conference approved \u201ca series of affirmations and agreements about how all persons will be treated with respect to their sexuality or gender identity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The denomination affirms sexuality as \u201ca sacred gift and acknowledge that sexual intimacy contributes to fostering the emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being of individuals\u201d \u2014 a standard they claim to apply \u201cto all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Students affiliated with the United Methodist Church who will begin courses in the fall of 2026 will be grandfathered into the ordination process.<\/p>\n<p>Asbury said that roughly 9 percent of their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-blocks-trump-administrations-effort-to-strip-harvards-foreign-student-visas-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Judge blocks Trump administration\u2019s effort to strip Harvard\u2019s foreign student visas ... Washington Examiner\">current student body<\/a> are affiliated with the United Methodist Church.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur theological commitments, including our commitment to Scripture, remain unchanged,\u201d the statement continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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