"A better church is achievable": Methodists rejoice as the church accepts LGBTQ members.

"Embracing LGBTQ Community: Methodists Celebrate a More Accepting Church"

For a long time, Woodworth and her wife and co-pastor, Anjie, made efforts to create a United Methodist Church community that was extremely open to everyone, specifically including LGBTQIA+ members. Their church defied the larger Methodist denomination's official beliefs, which in 1972 deemed homosexuality as in conflict with Christian teaching and eventually barred those who identified as "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals" from becoming ordained.

But that fateful Sunday morning, as she extended a heartfelt invitation to all congregants regardless of race, gender identity, or sexuality, Woodworth discovered she was mostly speaking to herself.

"During the beginning of 2020, I came out to myself as being transgender," she said. "I used to believe I was a White, straight male, but I've realized that's not who I am at all. I spent a significant amount of time at home during the quarantine period, trying to understand more about myself. It's there that I learnt that Anjie and I had built a church where I could finally be my authentic self."

Being open about her identity as a trans woman meant she'd have to face potential consequences. This included losing her job, her home, and her congregation.

"I'm transgender, so if I want to be genuine and truly myself, I must confront not only my congregation but my denomination," Woodworth said. "I wasn't certain how it would turn out."

The United Methodist Church has been in turmoil regarding its position on homosexuality for years. Until recently, pastors were not allowed to perform same-sex marriages, and those who did risked severe repercussions, like being put on trial or disciplined. In one instance, a minister was sacked for officiating his son's same-sex union.

Numerous others have said they were shut out from attaining ordination after coming out. There seemed to be a rift between the conservatives, the closeted individuals, and the rebels challenging the church's anti-LGBTQ+ stance.

"There was always the fear that, even with a supportive bishop and the chance to serve in an open or out-of-the-closet capacity, charges could be brought simply because the policies still existed," Rev. Kristin Stoneking explained to CNN.

Over a decade ago, the United Methodist Church's ruling body opened a window for churches to leave over the debate. By 2023, records reveal that more than 7,600 congregations voted to separate, with many conservative-leaning limbs breaking off.

However, this prolonged divide came to an end this week when, in a revolutionary move, the church adopted a series of measures to remove anti-LGBTQ+ policies from its Book of Discipline, the codex that outlines the denomination's regulations and bylaws.

The church's governing body marked a new age of LGBTQ+ acceptance by retracting the bans on LGBTQ+ clergy and on pastors performing same-sex unions. They also removed the statement that described homosexuality as "incompatible with Christian teaching."

These modifications were seen as monumental by many, including Woodworth.

Rev. Anjie Woodworth, left, and Rev. Andi Woodworth during a service at the Neighborhood Church in Atlanta.

"This change in our church rules is crucial as it implies that individuals can choose to authentically express who they are and still choose to serve God," she said.

Anjie Woodworth, who attended the gathering called the "General Conference," witnessed as, with each vote, several of her coworkers and friends were moved to tears.

"We've effectively experienced a denominational divorce in various respects. There's been a lot of damage inflicted and abuse carried out on queer people [within] our denomination, at times even quite overtly during past General Conferences. I think people's concerns and trauma responses have been triggered, even when things were going well," she explained.

Anjie serves on the board of the Reconciling Ministries Network, an organization that's campaigned for 40 years to ensure full LGBTQ+ participation within the United Methodist Church and within the church's hierarchy.

"It's been a joy witnessing these young folks celebrate alongside those who've been devoted to this cause since before I was born," she said.

While euphoria over the end of the church's anti-LGBTQ+ policies prevailed, Rev. Andy Oliver, the senior pastor of Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, couldn't help but think of those who aren't around to experience this shift in attitudes.

Oliver recalls how his viewpoints on homosexuality evolved after meeting Robert "BJ" Jackson while attending college. Jackson was gay and in a loving relationship, but he wasn’t permitted to marry.

Over the years, Oliver claimed his friendship with Jackson grew. When BJ and Tim asked if Oliver could officiate their wedding, he didn't hesitate. He also overlooked potential fallout within the Methodist church.

BJ Jackson died in January 2023. Oliver had officiated at 26 same-sex unions. He added that he's been fighting complaints and the possibility of a church trial for officiating these weddings ever since 2014.

"He's truly one of the reasons why I dedicated myself to this task... to establish a church that would be completely welcoming and loving for him," said Oliver.

Later, Oliver contacted Tim, Jackson's widow, after the church's remarkable week.

Rev. Andy Oliver reacts after the United Methodist Church removes a rule forbidding

"I told her, 'You know, and I know, BJ was here,'" explained Oliver, becoming emotional. "Can you imagine remaining part of a church for so long that their rules classify you as incompatible? And yet you persevere, you battle since you're convinced a better church can be achieved."

The True Struggle Commences

The United Methodist Church (UMC) is one of the biggest mainline Protestant Christian denominations in the United States, as per the Pew Research Center. As of 2022, the UMC claims to have more than 5.4 million members in the US, across nearly 30,000 active churches.

The church deep roots are in Savannah, Georgia, where John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, served as a minister when the city was a British colony's capital, per church history.

Rev. Billy Hester, stated the church's legacy and influence are visible all around Savannah, making it even more significant when, in 2019, his Asbury Memorial Church congregation voted to leave the denomination due to their stance on homosexuality.

Hester shared that many of Asbury's congregation identify as LGBTQ and, after years of battling against the UMC's regulations, the vote to disaffiliate was overwhelming.

Even though his church is no longer an institution of the UMC, Hester stayed positive about the news this week.

"I'm sorry that so much distress and suffering occurred along the way. I'm thrilled this transpired for the denomination," he said.

Yet, he also urged against making hasty declarations of change. "Regardless of what the denomination says, it does not ensure the local churches will. I hope that now in these Methodist congregations, LGBTQ individuals will feel highly affirmed."

CNN's Justin Gamble contributed to this report.