Update: United Methodists on Tuesday rejected the effort by progressive members of the church to lift the same-sex marriage ban. Read our full coverage here.

ST. LOUIS — Deeply divided United Methodist delegates advanced a conservative plan out of committee Monday to maintain the church’s bans on same-sex marriage and gay clergy while dealing a potential setback to those pushing for full LGBT inclusion.

The rule book for the second-largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. prohibits same-sex church weddings and "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" from serving as ministers.

For decades, Methodists have been split on how to address the issue, a division on full display this week during a specially called session of the church’s General Conference here in St. Louis. Whatever happens could lead members and entire congregations to leave the denomination for good.

The 864 lay and clergy delegates from around the world morphed into a legislative committee Monday and spent much of the day hashing out the details of competing plans.

The Traditional Plan would reinforce the church's current positions. The One Church Plan would allow same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy while adding protections for churches and pastors who do not support the marriages.

Final vote on Traditional Plan expected Tuesday

The Traditional Plan won the support of the committee. The One Church Plan failed by a 50-vote margin, dealing a setback to those wishing to advance LGBT inclusion within the denomination.

But nothing is final yet.

These same delegates will return to The Dome in St. Louis on Tuesday and gather as the plenary, or a meeting acting as the full General Conference assembly. That’s when a final vote is expected on the Traditional Plan and when the One Church Plan could make a comeback.

Supporters of the Traditional Plan praised the legislative committee's actions.

Mark Tooley, the president of the Institute on Religion & Democracy, said he is relieved and pleased, but not surprised by the decisions made Monday. The institute is a part of a coalition that has advocated for the Traditional Plan.

"You never know for sure until the vote actually happens so overall I thought it was good news for those who support the church's current standards and want to keep as much of the church together as possible as a global denomination," Tooley said.

He is optimistic that delegates will continue to support the Traditional Plan on the final day of the special session.

"I think that it confirms that Methodism slowly, but surely is moving away from being a traditional U.S. mainline denomination and becoming a very different global denomination," Tooley said.

Supporters of the more inclusive One Church Plan say it is not dead yet despite the blow delivered by the legislative committee.

"I think it’s important that we not give up right now," said the Rev. Rachel Baughman, who is on the coordinating team for Uniting Methodists.

The group is a part of a coalition that is using another General Conference mechanism, referred to as the minority report, to try to bring the One Church Plan back for consideration on Tuesday, Baughman said.

They will spend the rest of Monday finding allies to support it instead of the Traditional Plan, said Neil Alexander, also with Uniting Methodists.

"Realistically, we recognize that it's uphill," Alexander said. "We remain hopeful that what we think is the will of the larger church will be reflected in the action of the delegates, which is a representative body."

Deep divides within the church

The church's deep divides over the issue were illustrated Monday — both during the debate and among Methodists following the action on livestreams and social media. The cultural split was apparent with many from more conservative parts of the world backing the Traditional Plan. There are more than 12 million United Methodists around the globe.

The debate, at times, touched on the greater human sexuality matters at hand.

Sergey Kim, a delegate from the Central Russia Conference, addressed the meeting, expressing his support for the Traditional Plan.

"The Traditional Plan is based on the biblical truth, and I think this is a first priority," Kim said through a translator. "It said in the Bible, 'Do not add anything to my words. Do not take away from my words. Do as your God commands.' "

The Rev. Tom Berlin, a delegate from the Virginia Conference, spoke against the Traditional Plan. Berlin had submitted the more inclusive One Church Plan.

The One Church Plan is backed by those in the denomination with more progressive views and is supported by a majority of the Council of Bishops.

"The (Traditional) plan is trying to force us to be a church that we are not," Berlin said. "Pew Research teaches us that younger generations will see this plan as anti-gay because they support marriage equity. We will be seen by unchurched people in the United States in a similar way we experienced protesters outside."

The legislative committee Monday morning approved the Traditional Plan, but a final vote is not expected until Tuesday.

'Stand up and clap, sit down and cry'

The legislative committee spent the remainder of the morning taking up petitions that would aid congregations trying to exit the church. The United Methodists disagreed about those, too, but the committee eventually approved them. Those petitions also still need a final vote.

After lunch, the legislative committee debated the more inclusive One Church Plan. It was not approved, leading to worry from supporters about the next steps.

The Rev. Byron Thomas, a delegate with the North Georgia Conference, supports the One Church Plan and compared this moment to Methodists’ support in 1939 for racial segregation in the church.

"The late Bishop James Thomas, in recalling the moment in his book entitled 'Methodism's Racial Dilemma,' wrote that the white folks stood up and clapped and the black folks sat down and cried. I believe that we are another stand up and clap, sit down and cry moment," he said. "Instead of a gracious exit, cannot we consider a more faithful stay?"

Rudolph Merab, a delegate with the Liberia Conference, spoke against it.

"It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error," Merab said. "It is wrong for the Christian church not to talk about the full counsel of God in scripture."

Reach Holly Meyer at hmeyer@tennessean.com or 615-259-8241 and on Twitter @HollyAMeyer.

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