Mainline Protestant Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Social issues== [[File:HarvardElizaSusanQuincy1836.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|[[Harvard College]], a favorite choice of [[American upper class]]es. Having a college degree is common among Episcopalians and Presbyterians.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jerome Karabel|title=The Chosen: The Hidden History of Admission and Exclusion at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zwf-Ofc--toC&pg=PA23|year=2006|page=23|isbn=978-0-618-77355-8}}</ref>]] Many mainline denominations are active in voicing perspectives on social issues. Almost all mainline denominations are gender-inclusive and ordain women.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/09/09/the-divide-over-ordaining-women/|title=The divide over ordaining women|date=2014-09-09|website=Pew Research Center|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref> On abortion issues, the Episcopal Church (TEC), Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA), Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), and United Church of Christ (UCC) are members of the [[Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rcrc.org/homepage/about/coalition-council/|title=Coalition Members {{!}} Religious Coalition For Reproductive Choice|website=rcrc.org|access-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524170144/http://rcrc.org/homepage/about/coalition-council/|archive-date=2016-05-24}}</ref> The United Methodist Church (UMC) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) support exceptions, when abortion may be necessary, but do not endorse the procedure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/what-is-the-united-methodist-position-on-abortion|title=What is the United Methodist position on abortion? - The United Methodist Church|last=Communications|first=United Methodist|website=The United Methodist Church|access-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331123719/http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/what-is-the-united-methodist-position-on-abortion|archive-date=2018-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Statements/Abortion|title=Abortion|website=ELCA.org|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref> Other denominations, such as the Church of the Brethren and Mennonite Church USA, are against abortion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.brethren.org/ac/statements/1984abortion.html|title=1984 Abortion|website=brethren.org|access-date=2016-06-15|archive-date=2016-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807135926/http://www.brethren.org/ac/statements/1984abortion.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jul/12/local/me-religbriefs12.5|title=Mennonites Approve Dual Policy on Abortion|last=Services|first=Times Wire|date=2003-07-12|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|access-date=2016-06-15}}</ref> Regarding human sexuality, TEC, the ELCA, PC(USA), Society of Friends (Quaker), UUA, and UCC recognize same-gender marriages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/12/21/where-christian-churches-stand-on-gay-marriage/|title=Where Christian churches, other religions stand on gay marriage|date=2015-12-21|website=Pew Research Center|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref> Also considered mainline, the Anglican Church of Canada,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.anglican.ca/faith/focus/hs/ssbh/|title=Same Sex Blessings/Homosexuality - Anglican Church of Canada|website=Anglican Church of Canada|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref> Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/evangelical-lutherans-back-same-sex-marriage-126053333.html|title=Evangelical Lutherans back same-sex marriage|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|date=23 July 2011|access-date=2016-06-03|last1=Suderman|first1=Brenda}}</ref> and United Church of Canada bless or marry same-gender couples.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/united-church-endorses-gay-marriage-1.357106|title=United Church endorses gay marriage|website=cbc.ca|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref> In 2015, the Mennonite Church Canada saw its first same-gender marriage in one of its congregations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://themennonite.org/daily-news/first-mc-canada-officiated-sex-marriage-saskatchewan/|title=First MC Canada-officiated same-sex marriage|website=The Mennonite: A Publication of Mennonite Church USA Providing Anabaptist Content|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-06|archive-date=2020-08-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803133045/https://themennonite.org/daily-news/first-mc-canada-officiated-sex-marriage-saskatchewan/}}</ref> The American Baptist Churches USA does not perform same-gender marriages, but allows each congregation the freedom to decide for itself.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bpnews.net/45162/gay-marriage-mainline-denominations-affirm-scotus|title=Gay marriage: mainline denominations affirm SCOTUS|website=Baptist Press|date=20 July 2015 |language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref> Including the aforementioned denominations, the Mennonite Church USA, Metropolitan Community Church, and Moravian Church Northern Province license or ordain openly gay clergy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mennoworld.org/2014/10/27/news/another-conference-to-license-gay-pastor/|title=Another conference to license gay pastor|date=2014-10-27|website=Mennonite World Review|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.moravian.org/northern-province-synod-2014/moravian-church-northern-province-synod-approves-ordination-of-gay-and-lesbian-pastors/|title=Moravian Church Northern Province Synod approves ordination of gay and lesbian pastors Β« Northern Province Synod 2014 Β« Moravian Church of North America|website=moravian.org|access-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603100010/http://www.moravian.org/northern-province-synod-2014/moravian-church-northern-province-synod-approves-ordination-of-gay-and-lesbian-pastors/|archive-date=2018-06-03}}</ref> While the UMC does not nationally ordain gay or lesbian clergy, the New York Annual Conference, a regional body of the UMC, has ordained the denomination's first openly gay and lesbian clergy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nyac.com/newsdetail/33-ordained-commissioned-by-new-york-conference-5012427|title=33 Ordained, Commissioned in "Historic" Service|website=nyac.com|access-date=2016-06-13}}</ref> The Western Jurisdiction of the UMC also elected the denomination's first openly gay bishop.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/western-jurisdiction-elects-openly-gay-united-methodist-bishop|title=Western Jurisdiction elects openly gay United Methodist bishop - The United Methodist Church|last=Communications|first=United Methodist|website=The United Methodist Church|access-date=2016-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160718232123/http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/western-jurisdiction-elects-openly-gay-united-methodist-bishop|archive-date=2016-07-18}}</ref> Some congregations of the Church of the Brethren have also voted to perform same-gender marriages although the national denomination opposes this practice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goshennews.com/news/goshen-church-votes-sunday-to-allow-same-sex-marriages/article_625255b6-2046-11e6-a47a-4b7081dc1cef.html|title=Goshen church votes Sunday to allow same-sex marriages|first=SHERRY|last=VAN ARSDALL|website=Goshen News|date=22 May 2016 |access-date=2016-06-15}}</ref> Most of the above denominations also ordain openly transgender clergy. While the national church has not approved of gay or lesbian clergy, the UMC has allowed transgender pastors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/12/02/religious-groups-policies-on-transgender-members-vary-widely/|title=Religious groups' policies on transgender members vary widely|date=2015-12-02|website=Pew Research Center|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref> Politically, mainline churches are also active. While no particular candidate can be endorsed, mainline churches often invite political speakers. At the 2016 General Conference for the [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]], a [[Black church|historically Black denomination]] but also identified as mainline, [[Hillary Clinton]] was invited to offer an address for the delegates and clergy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blackchristiannews.com/2016/07/hillary-clinton-to-address-ame-church-conference-in-philadelphia/|title=Hillary Clinton to Address AME Church Conference in Philadelphia|date=7 July 2016 |language=en-us|access-date=2016-07-08}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page