United Methodist Church Cuts Ties with Asbury Theological Seminary Over Marriage Stance
The United Methodist Church's University Senate removed Asbury Theological Seminary from its list of approved schools for clergy candidates on June 17-18, 2026. The decision followed a quadrennial review that found Asbury's stance on marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman conflicts with the UMC's revised 2024 Social Principles. Students already enrolled at Asbury remain eligible for UMC ordination if they begin coursework by fall 2026.
The United Methodist Church formally cut ties with Asbury Theological Seminary last month, ending a relationship that dates back to 1946.
The UMC University Senate voted to delist Asbury during a meeting held June 17-18, 2026. Northeastern Seminary was also removed at the same time.
The University Senate cited two main reasons. First, Asbury's published ethos statement, which defines marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman, conflicts with the UMC's 2024 revised Social Principles. Second, the seminary lacks a full-time United Methodist faculty member who consistently teaches the denomination's required history, doctrine, and polity.
Asbury President David Watson said the seminary was transparent about its doctrinal standards throughout the review process. He called the delisting a "unilateral" decision and said Asbury's theological commitments remain unchanged.
The seminary, founded in 1923, has been authorized to educate Methodist clergy since 1946 and was officially approved for ordination candidates since 1981.
Students currently enrolled at Asbury, and those who begin coursework by fall 2026, remain eligible to pursue UMC ordination. After that cutoff, clergy candidates must attend one of the 13 UMC-affiliated seminaries or the 25 remaining University Senate-approved schools.
The decision does not affect Asbury's accreditation through the Association of Theological Schools. The seminary remains approved for the Global Methodist Church and other denominations.
The split reflects the broader theological divisions that led to the formation of the conservative Global Methodist Church in 2022.
