Earlier this year, the United Methodist Church lost over one million members from the Côte d’Ivoire Conference in West Africa, constituting one of the largest departures in the embattled denomination’s history. In recent years, the United Methodist Church has faced substantial criticism from the broader Christian community over its decision to allow LGBT members in its leadership and its blessing of same-sex marriage.

As a result, the Cote d’Ivoire Conference voted to leave the conference earlier this year, as it determined that the UMC had become distanced “from the Holy Scriptures” and “was no longer suitable” to be involved with. In a Methodist Church Council of Bishops statement, President Tracy Malone specified that while the church has removed “restrictive language” that prevented LGBT individuals from leading, it does not prevent local churches from adhering to their beliefs.