Summary
The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, the largest independent Black Protestant denomination, reaffirmed its ban on same-sex marriage at its 2023 General Conference, frustrating Rev. Jennifer S. Leath, a long-time advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Leath, a self-identified “quare” pastor and academic, has fought for two decades to challenge the denomination’s stance, which she argues alienates LGBTQ+ members.
Despite setbacks, including the rejection of a key proposal for open debate, she remains committed to reforming church policies.
Abandon these monuments to trauma. They are antiquities of the past, serving only to siphon money and emotional energy from the vulnerable.