Evangelical Methodist Church in Uruguay

The Evangelical Methodist Church in Uruguay is a member of the World Methodist Council. It has 1,000 members and 12 congregations. It is also an autonomous affiliate of the United Methodist Church.{{Cite web|url=http://www.umc.org/directory/affiliated-churches-south-america|title=Affiliated Churches: South America - The United Methodist Church|publisher=United Methodist Communications|website=The United Methodist Church|access-date=2016-05-27|archive-date=2016-05-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528150121/http://www.umc.org/directory/affiliated-churches-south-america|url-status=dead}}

History

The church was founded by British missionaries in the mid-1800s. In 1893 it became a district, when the Latin America Conference was formed. In 1952 the Uruguay provisional Conference was formed; in 1968 it became autonomous.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/methodist-church-of-uruguay|title=Methodist Church of Uruguay|website=World Council of Churches|date=January 1971 }}

Social issues

Women are able to be ordained in the denomination,{{Cite web|url = http://www.lr21.com.uy/mujeres/364925-en-la-iglesia-metodista-las-mujeres-avanzan|title = en la Iglesia Metodista las mujeres avanzan|website = LARED21| date=17 May 2009 |language = es-ES|access-date = 2016-05-26}} and from 1994 to 2000 the president of the church was a lay woman, Beatriz Ferrari.{{cite book|author=Elizabeth Sleeman|title=The International Who's Who of Women 2002|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6J8xDWDqOkEC|year=2001|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-1-85743-122-3|page=174|chapter=Ferrari, Beatriz}} The church has also "resolved that pastors that wish to minister to homosexuals could do so freely".{{Cite web|url = http://www.laotravozdigital.com/discriminacion-sexual-avances-y-retrocesos-de-las-iglesias-protestantes-historicas/|title = DISCRIMINACIÓN SEXUAL: AVANCES Y RETROCESOS DE LAS IGLESIAS PROTESTANTES HISTÓRICAS - La Otra Voz Digital|website = La Otra Voz Digital| date=29 April 2010 |access-date = 2016-05-26}} As a result, some congregations and ministers have provided blessing services for same-gender couples.{{Cite web|url=http://www.republica.com.uy/bendecidos-por-el-clerigo/519053/|title=Bendecidos por el clérigo Frontán|date=2015-05-31|website=Diario La República|language=es-ES|access-date=2016-05-27}}

References

Category:Methodism in Uruguay

Category:Members of the World Council of Churches

Category:Affirming Christian denominations in South America