Others have looked at the big picture and are staying with the denomination, or rather, with their local churches. Some want to model for the denomination that there is room for justice and room for all, that diverse ideas, thinking, and beliefs are what Methodism is all about and were, in fact, the foundation of Methodism. Here is what they say about their reasons for remaining UM:

[I] am working to make the UMC welcoming since it hurts to be considered a second class citizen in the UMC when I know that Jesus would not treat me that way.

My congregation wants me to be their representative to the Annual Conference, and I am resisting because my joy is in working one-on-one with the new generation. Being a representative to the political machine is tempting because I want to change the politics, but I also feel that attitudes don't change through confrontation, but through relationships.

My church is a pioneer in showing the larger United Methodist denomination how to include the GLBT community. We are breaking down walls, but still have to contend with issues like internal homophobia. I see progress, but I sometimes despair that the progress is so miniscule as to have a long-term affect. From my perspective, my church is an oasis in the battle over gays and lesbians' role in the church. An outsider probably sees us as the black sheep in the UM family. While the Bishop and District Superintendent support us, there's always the threat of those within the Conference laying [sic] in wait to destroy us if we make a misstep. It's one reason our minister will never perform a same-sex commitment ceremony. There's so, so much work to be done in the UM church. I haven' given up on it, but there are some days I think about it.

I want to live to see [my local church] become the standard for inclusion of all persons regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, color, age, physical disability, and all the other ways that God granted us difference. I haven't come to terms with whether the UMC is the perfect denomination for me, but it's the one I chose when I decided to become involved with the organized church again.

Next: Denominational Focus