"Progressive" religious liberals have badly fractured the once stalwart Methodist denomination. (And others as well.)
In the late 70s, I attended a "Wesleyan" Methodist church for several years; fine folk and sound preaching, some of the best I've ever heard. A lot of old line Methodists had split from the arch liberal "United" Methodists. They added "Wesleyan" to distinguish themselves from the secularist corruption of fundamental Christian doctrines under the "United" group's control. (Wesleyan's eventually dropped "Methodist" from their label to further separate themselves from the United Methodists). The U.M.s lost a lot of good people in that but the bosses were obviously Christian in name only and old timers could not be a part of that movement.
United Methodist controllers say they just wanted to make "everyone" feel welcome but that's a specious lie; what they wanted was more people/money.
ALL churches want everyone to feel welcome but few are ready to let social rebels seize control of their pulpits and then spout feel-good (Satanic and non-Christian) worldviews in order to attract a wider audience. And more money. Same things are happening with other once strong denominations.
What motivates denominational leaders to teach counter to scripture? Truth is, they have lost many people and it's hurt contributions so badly the bosses felt they MUST stop preaching Christianity and effectively become nicely dressed "feel good" religious social clubs that won't teach/preach anything that might make unrepentant sinners feel uncomfortable. Such "liberals" have an easy way to deal with uncomfortable personal sins; they simply refuse to say anyone is a lost sinner needing Christ!!
Methodists have a rigid episcobale (top down) system of government. When liberals gain power over anything they hold onto it with tightly clinched claws so it's nearly impossible to throw them out.
Domineering lib controllers always strive to keep descienting views from being heard (as in our government controlled "public" education system and our "scientific" global warming establishment) so they can win every public argument. At least until their whole system of whatever crumbles in its fouled tracks.