Franklin Mennonite Conference is joining Lancaster Mennonite Conference a year and a half after departing Mennonite Church USA.

Franklin lay delegates and credentialed members voted Sept. 28 to affirm the recommendation of the conference board to join LMC as a bishop district. The resolution passed with 92 percent approval.

Franklin has 14 congregations with about 1,000 members in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Franklin delegates voted to depart MC USA at their annual spring meeting April 18, 2016, surpassing the required two-thirds needed with a vote that received 77 percent approval.

Conference leaders said concerns about issues surrounding same-sex relationships made congregations want to leave MC USA.

A Franklin release stated that Franklin District of LMC will continue to operate much as it has in the past.

Allen Lehman will continue to serve as pastor to the pastors and represent the district at LMC’s bimonthly bishop board meetings.

Associated organizations such as the Franklin Conference Mission Board and The Burning Bush newsletter will continue.