After exodus of conservative congregations, United Methodist Church lifts restriction on LGBT clergy

[Statilius the Epicurean]

Just an impression from an outsider, and it might be wrong, but my impression is that evangelicalism is more Biblicist and consequently more appreciative of the Old Testament heritage of Christianity than Eastern Orthodoxy or other non-Protestant branches. (This of course fed into the much maligned dispensationalism.) One might be more likely to hear a homily on Gregory Palamas at an Eastern Orthodox church, but I'd think one would be more likely to hear a sermon about the story of Bathsheba at an evangelical one. So to me it seems like depth of history is a matter of perspective. (It's also often said that evangelicals have a more intense reading and centring of the Gospel text itself than other denominations, but putting that to the side because it's a more controversial claim)

The more general point I think is that the history of Christianity is so long, it would be impossible for any church to assimilate it all equally. Each one has to choose a period as a point of emphasis. I remember reading somewhere that for EOs their conception of history is centred on the Nicene Fathers of the 4th century, Roman Catholics are centred on the 13th century and the Lateran Councils, and classical Protestants are centred on the 16th century and the Reformers. Each is a decision, and a decision that necessarily excludes parts of the history of Christianity at other times.