The Lancaster Mennonite Conference (LMC) had voted to leave the Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) in 2015, and the decision became effective January 1, 2018.

The LMC, comprised of 179 congregations in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, left over the definition of marriage and the sinfulness of homosexuality, according to a report from Religion News Service.

A pastor for one of the LMC congregations told NPR back when the vote to split took place it was actually the MC USA that had departed from Biblical teaching.

"We are in a sense not really leaving," said Steve Olivieri, pastor of Cornerstone Fellowship of Mill Run in Altoona, Pennsylvania. "They are the ones that essentially have left true Biblical Christianity in this respect."

"I don't want to do some of the things the Bible says sometimes, lot of times—but I still have to do it," Olivieri said. "We understand that whenever a passage says, ‘The following shall not inherit the Kingdom of God,' and it lists homosexuals, we believe that's a lifestyle choice that you make."

Mennonite teaching says homosexual activity is a sin, and also defines marriage as a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman.

The U.S. Mennonite Church has reprimanded and fired pastors who have defied the church's doctrine and conducted "LGBT weddings," a Daily Caller report said, but individual pastors have advocated for change. This push led the Mennonite U.S.A denomination to implement hiring and other official policies that the LMC saw as affirming LGBT lifestyles, resulting in the split...

Click here to continue reading.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Watch: Nail-Biting Moment Woman Falls on Subway Tracks, Hero NYPD Cops Save Her Just in Time

'Biden's Border Crisis': Shocking Numbers in Senate Republicans' Report Detailing the Disaster at America's Southern Border

Sneaky Joe's New Plan to Steal the Midterms

Supreme Court Rules Republican Lawmakers Can Defend North Carolina's Voter Integrity Laws

Crisis Pregnancy Center President Stands Firm in Face of Vandalism and Threats

Alveda King: Dobbs Case Decision Will Save Lives; 'Civil Rights Begin in the Womb'

Historic: Supreme Court of United States Officially Overturns 'Roe v. Wade'

'Share the Love of Christ': Louisiana Church Gives Away 200 Free Gas Cards as Price at the Pump Soars

Chevron CEO Fires Back at Biden, Slams 'Political Rhetoric' in New Letter

Abortion Disproportionately Targets Black Babies; CDC: 74% of Abortions in Mississippi Were Performed on Black Mothers

Louisiana's Democratic Governor Signs Pro-Life Law Criminalizing Mail-Order Abortion Pills

A New Opportunity for Sweet Cakes' Kleins, as Their Legal Battle Continues: 'God Is the Rock We Stand On, His Love Will Conquer All Fears'

Parent of 'De-Transitioned' Child Gives HEARTBREAKING Plea to Stop Trans Sanctuary Bill

US Supreme Court Upholds Concealed-Carry Right of Self-Defense for Law-Abiding Citizens

Hundreds of Female Inmates Baptized as 'God Behind Bars' Ministry Shares the Redeeming Power of Jesus

'This Is Not My Dad': Hero Mom Outside Florida Church Saves Two Kids from Alleged Kidnapping

Biden Administration Caves to Environmental Groups, Delays Oil and Gas Lease Sales Again

Biden Administration to Force Schools to Adopt Radical Gender Policies; Here's What You Need to Know

Faith Leaders, Members of Congress Demand US AG Respond to Acts of Pro-Abortion Terrorism

Texas GOP Platform Affirms 'God's Biblical Design for Marriage' and the Sanctity of Life; Says Gay Marriage Decision 'Should Be Nullified'