Asbury Seminary Removed From UMC Approved List Over Marriage, Sexuality Standards

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) –

WILMORE, Kentucky (Worthy News) – Asbury Theological Seminary says it has been removed from The United Methodist Church’s list of approved schools for ordination candidates, ending an 80-year relationship after the evangelical institution declined to align with the denomination’s unbiblical positions on marriage and human sexuality.

The University Senate of the UMC voted to remove the Wilmore, Kentucky-based seminary from its approved list of theological schools for candidates preparing for ordained ministry. Asbury was first approved by The Methodist Church in 1946 and has been recognized by the UMC for ordination preparation since 1981.

Asbury President Dr. David F. Watson said the decision was made unilaterally by the denomination after the seminary cooperated with the review process.

“We engaged fully and faithfully in the process and honored every request from the Senate in a timely manner,” Watson said. “Throughout 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.”

The decision follows the UMC’s 2024 changes that removed longstanding restrictions on same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBT clergy. Watson said the Senate’s requirements, especially those tied to the denomination’s updated Social Principles on “Human Sexuality” and “Marriage,” conflict with Asbury’s historic Biblical Christian convictions.

“We affirm marriage as sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union for life, as delineated in Scripture,” Watson said, adding that the seminary’s commitment to Scripture and orthodox Christianity remains unchanged.

Asbury emphasized that the move will not affect its institutional accreditation. The school remains accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. It also remains an approved theological institution for the Global Methodist Church and other denominations.

Current UMC-affiliated students, as well as students seeking ordination in the UMC who begin coursework at Asbury by Fall 2026, will be grandfathered into the denomination’s ordination process.

Approximately 9% of Asbury’s student body currently identifies as United Methodist. The seminary said more than 4,000 living Asbury alumni affiliated with the UMC have served or are currently serving in ministry around the world.

Founded in 1923, Asbury Theological Seminary serves students from more than 75 denominations and describes its founding vision as “The Whole Bible for the Whole World.” The seminary operates a flagship campus in Wilmore, Kentucky, along with extension sites in Memphis, Orlando, Tampa, and Tulsa, as well as fully online degree programs.

Latest Worthy News