Pastor Lee Dong-hwan fired for supporting gay people
The Methodist Church in South Korea recently excommunicated a pastor for his involvement in LGBT activism, following a church statement released this week. The Church has confirmed its decision to expel Pastor Lee Dong-hwan after discovering his participation in pro-LGBT activities in a country where same-sex marriage is not legally recognized. The Church has cited violations of its doctrine for acts of approval or agreement with homosexuality, such as blessing ceremonies and public demonstrations in support of sexual minorities.
While nearly a quarter of South Korea’s population identifies as Christian, many maintain a traditional biblical stance against same-sex marriage as a sin. Pastor Lee appeared before a religious court after offering a blessing to LGBT people, leading to his excommunication for engaging in activities deemed pro-homosexuality. Although his appeal was rejected, Lee called the decision disgraceful and plans to take legal action to challenge his dismissal. Efforts to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation have faced opposition from churches and civic groups over the past decade and a half.
The worldwide Methodist denomination has been divided over the issue of same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBT clergy. To UNITED STATES, thousands of churches have left the United Methodist Church over disagreements over same-sex marriage and gay clergy ordination policies. Regional bodies voted in favor of leaving the UMC, with some congregations facing obstacles in their disaffiliation process. Many congregations joined the Comprehensive Methodist Church, a theologically conservative denomination formed as an alternative to the UMC in 2022.
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