ABSTRACT
Mainline Methodists constitute nearly 4 percent of adult Americans. Mainline Methodists exhibit slightly more religious intensity than other mainline Protestants. Nearly 70 percent of mainline Methodists have absolute certainty that God exists. The interviews with the methodist bishops provide some firsthand insights by regional religious authorities for a qualitative dimension toward understanding United Methodist responses to marriage equality. The United Methodist Church was created in 1968 when the Evangelical United Brethren Church united with the Methodist Church. There are several demographic similarities between mainline Protestants and evangelical Christians. Mainline Protestants are predominately white even more so than evangelical Christians and women constitute a majority. Mainline Protestants are less certain in their religious beliefs and less active in regards to religious worship compared to evangelical Protestants. The research has found that "mainline Protestants address issues of sexuality by calling for inclusivity" and that "mainline denominations emphasize continual dialogue.
