Twelve church leaders from the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe have walked away from their jobs. They left because their church decided to accept gay relationships and marriages. These pastors gathered reporters in Harare and explained why they could not stay with the church anymore.
Rev. Forbed Matonga spoke for the group and said the church had changed its beliefs about right and wrong. The big change happened last year when church leaders in America voted on new rules. A large majority, 523 people, compared to just 161, agreed to stop saying gay relationships are wrong according to Christian teaching.
The American church also decided that gay people can become pastors and church leaders. Pastor Maria Masamba explained that she worries about how these changes affect regular families. She thinks churches should stick to traditional ideas about marriage between men and women only.
These pastors believe that changing these basic rules hurts society at its core. They say families need both moms and dads to raise children who become successful adults. They don't see themselves as refusing to change with the times. Instead, they believe they're protecting God's plan for how people should live and form families.
Rev. Forbed Matonga spoke for the group and said the church had changed its beliefs about right and wrong. The big change happened last year when church leaders in America voted on new rules. A large majority, 523 people, compared to just 161, agreed to stop saying gay relationships are wrong according to Christian teaching.
The American church also decided that gay people can become pastors and church leaders. Pastor Maria Masamba explained that she worries about how these changes affect regular families. She thinks churches should stick to traditional ideas about marriage between men and women only.
These pastors believe that changing these basic rules hurts society at its core. They say families need both moms and dads to raise children who become successful adults. They don't see themselves as refusing to change with the times. Instead, they believe they're protecting God's plan for how people should live and form families.
