(Des Moines, IA) -- Over 140 Methodist congregations in Iowa are now officially separated from the United Methodist Church. It comes after an over 40 year debate regarding issues of human sexuality. Pastor John Gaulke leads a Methodist church in Altoona that voted to leave the denomination, which took effect on Friday. He says it's based on how a person looks at the Bible.
"This is what's causing these different camps to emerge, one moving more progressively, maybe more progressive theologically and socially, and one that's trying to hold to the Scripture," Gaulke said.
About eleven percent of United Methodist churches in Iowa have chosen to leave this year as part of the split. Bill Poland serves as Director of Connectional Ministries with the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, and formerly as an interim assistant to the Iowa Conference Bishop.
"We believe that in our different understandings, our different interpretations of Scripture, there is strength where all of us can learn from one another and grow together in love," Poland said during an interview in May.
83 churches in Iowa split off back in June, 59 more were separated as of Friday. It is part of a national and global movement in Methodism.