Editing Mainline Protestant (section)

==Social issues==
{{Update section|date=May 2025}}
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> 

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]] which also identifies 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>

===Abortion===
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=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-12-me-religbriefs12.5-story.html|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>

===Human sexuality===
Many mainline churches recognize, bless and/or perform same-sex marriages, including the ELCA, TEC, PC(USA), Society of Friends (Quaker), UUA, UCC,<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> 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.<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-sex 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 allows each congregation the freedom to decide for itself.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/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> 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>

Including the aforementioned denominations,{{which|date=May 2025}} 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 « Northern Province Synod 2014 « 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>{{clarification needed|date=May 2025}} 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>

Most of the above denominations{{which|date=May 2025}} 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>