Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton The words “First United” have been removed from the sign outside First Methodist Church in downtown Warren. First is one of six United Methodist churches in Warren County to disaffiliate with the denomination.

Six of 20 United Methodist churches have disaffiliated from the denomination.

The action was taken to formalize the disaffiliations during a special session of the Western Pennsylvania Conference held Wednesday evening.

Disaffiliation agreements were approved for 298 individual churches.

In Warren, that includes Akeley, Evangelical in Youngsville, First in Warren, Lander, Pittsfield Otterbein and Tiona, according to information from the conference.

While issues including lack of accountability, abuse of power, and lack of local control will be cited as reasons driving the split, the issue at the heart of the divide is human sexuality.

That’s evidenced by the very title of the language that churches are using to disaffiliate: “Disaffiliation of Local Churches Over Issues Related to Human Sexuality,” also known as paragraph 2553 in the denomination’s Book of Discipline.

From the text of the UMC Book of Discipline: “Because of the current deep conflict within The United Methodist Church around issues of human sexuality, a local church shall have a limited right… to disaffiliate from the denomination for reasons of conscience regarding a change in the requirements and provisions of the Book of Discipline related to the practice of homosexuality or the ordination of marriage of self-avowed practicing homosexuals… or the actions or inactions of its annual conference related to these issues….”

According to a release from the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the UMC, churches are required to settle obligations in order to complete the process “which many did immediately following the session.”

“We have a choice,” Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi said during the session.“As we go from this place, we can choose bitterness, envy, and selfish ambition. Or we can choose wisdom that is pure and peaceable… gentle and willing to yield… full of mercy and good fruits without a trace of hypocrisy and partiality.”

I am begging us to show the world who God is through the actions of those who are remaining in the conference and the actions of those who have disaffiliated. Begging us to show the world who God is through how we will love each other and choose the better way.”