The Church has been debating issues surrounding Christians of different sexualities for more than 40 years.
On Wednesday it voted to allow bishops to form a commission to look again at the rules on lesbian, gay and transgender clergy with relation to marriage.
The vote passed 428 to 405.
The schism has been ongoing in the church for the past 44 years.
May 18 wrap-up: Sexuality dominates debate in unexpected ways https://t.co/yR46bjZO8i #umcgc #umc pic.twitter.com/ivPjS4YQ5Y
— UM News Service (@UMNS) May 19, 2016
Ahead of the annual conference next month more than 100 clergy and candidates came out as gay.
The group of 111 pastors, deacons, elders and candidates for ministry posted a public letter about their sexuality online.
Church rules demand "that we not bring our full selves to ministry, that we hide from view our sexual orientations and gender identities," they said.
Some conservative Methodists have been disappointed by this move, saying that the Bible makes clear homosexuality is not compatible with Christian teaching.
According to The New York Times a delegate from Texas has asked church members to "lay aside all the political jargon, take a stand."
However, opposing that view, George Howard, the delegate from Ohio who is behind the proposed review said: "I am not afraid.
"I believe that our leaders are ready, willing and able to lead this church to discover a new way forward for us all."
The United Methodist Church comprises the third-biggest religious body in the USA, after the Roman Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention.
It has about seven million members, including Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush.
