Asbury Seminary Removed From United Methodist Church’s Approved Ordination School List
The denomination said Asbury’s ethos and staffing no longer meet its ordination standards, leaving 13 United Methodist schools approved.
- On Thursday, the United Methodist Church removed Asbury Theological Seminary from its list of approved schools for ministerial candidates, citing objections to the denomination's revised social principles on marriage and sexuality.
- The UMC's 2024 General Conference revised its social principles, removing language that called homosexuality "incompatible with Christian teaching" and now affirming same-sex marriage within the church.
- Founded 103 years ago, the Kentucky-based seminary has served students from more than 75 denominations and held UMC approval since 1981, though only about 9% of its student body identifies with the denomination.
- Students enrolled by fall 2026 may complete their programs and pursue ordination, but future candidates must attend approved schools; Asbury remains accredited through the Association of Theological Schools and continues serving the Global Methodist Church.
- Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, asserted Asbury will "outlast the shrinking United Methodist Church," while Northeastern Seminary was also removed from the denomination's approved list during the recent review.
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United Methodist Church severs ties with Asbury seminary over gay marriage
Denomination says seminary’s traditional Christian stance on homosexuality is ‘not compatible’ with its mission For calling gay marriage a sin, the Asbury Theological Seminary has lost its approval as school for ordained ministers through the United Methodist Church. David Watson, president of the evangelical Christian seminary, said in a statement Thursday that the decision came from… Source
UMC removes Asbury Seminary from approved schools over sexuality dispute
An 80-year relationship between Asbury Theological Seminary and the United Methodist Church has come to an end after the denomination removed the Evangelical institution from its list of approved seminaries over disagreements about same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy.
Religion News Service
Word&WayAsbury Theological Seminary cut by United Methodist Church over same-sex marriage issue
(RNS) — Asbury Theological Seminary, a 103-year-old Kentucky evangelical seminary, is no longer approved as a school for United Methodist candidates for ordained ministry, the school announced Thursday (June 25). It attributed its removal by the United Methodist Church’s university accrediting body to the school’s objections to a new version of the denomination’s social principles that no longer solely affirm heterosexual marriage. In its acknow…
ChurchLeaders
Christian News NowAsbury Seminary Removed From United Methodist Church’s Approved Ordination School List
Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, has been removed from the United Methodist Church’s (UMC) list of approved learning institutions for candidates for ordination in the UMC. According to Asbury, the decision was related to Asbury’s traditional stance on marriage, which clashes with the UMC’s recently revised stance, which affirms same-sex marriage. Asbury Theological Seminary […]
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