The methodist church and homosexuality
United Methodists remove anti-gay language from official teachings on societal issues
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — United Methodist delegates on Thursday removed a year-old declaration from their official social teachings that deemed “the perform of homosexuality incompatible with Christian teaching” — part of a wider series of historic reversals of the denomination’s long-standing disapproval of LGBTQ activity.
The historic vote came as delegates also approved a new definition of marriage as a covenant between “two people of faith” while recognizing the couple may or may not involve a gentleman and a girl. That replaces an exclusively heterosexual definition of marriage and followed a debate that exposed tensions between some U.S. and international delegates.
The vote to endorse a section of the church’s Revised Social Principles took place at the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in the penultimate day of their day legislative gathering in Charlotte.
It came a time after the General Conference removed its long-standing ban on “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from being o
Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ+ Issues: The United Methodist Church
In May , the General Conference voted to remove longstanding bans on the ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy and the celebration of same-sex marriages by clergy and in churches. These changes became fully effective on January 1,
BACKGROUND
The UMC traces its origins to the Methodist movement initiated in the midth century by Anglican priest John Wesley and his brother Charles. The current structure of the UMC was established in through the union of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The church is founded on three basic principles:
- Do no harm.
- Do good.
- Practice the ordinances of God, including prayer, Bible reading, worship, and the Lord's Supper.
The global church structure mirrors the United States government with legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The legislative branch, the General Conference, meets every four years to establish church policy. Approximately 1, delegates (half lay leaders, half clergy) gather to consider revisions to the Book of Resolutions and the Book of D
United Methodist Church will allow LGBTQ clergy, after year ban
BBC News, Washington
The United Methodist Church voted Wednesday to allow LGBTQ clergy to assist in the church, reversing a year ban.
The church had forbidden "self-avowed homosexuals" from being ordained or appointed as clergy members.
But during a national conference this week, delegates voted to overturn the ban without debate.
People at the conference in North Carolina sang hymns in celebration after the vote, the church said.
Attendees also eased restrictions on gay marriage, passing a measure to prevent clergy and churches from being penalized for performing or declining to perform same-sex weddings.
"With the approvals and acceptance of the things todaywe're beginning to view the unwinding, unravelling, dismantling of the heterosexism, the homophobia, the hurt and the harm of the United Methodist Church," Rev David Meredith said to United Methodist News.
Conservative members and congregations have left the denomination in recent y
Sexuality and the United Methodists
Others, like the Episcopals, Presbyterians (PCUSA), and Lutherans (ELCA) have taken explicit stances in verb of LGBTQ inclusion. Of course, individual members of these institutions will hold diverse views on the topic, and the stance of an institution does not always show the stance of an individual member; The United Method Church (UMC) is a perfect example of this complexity.
The UMC is a global Protestant denomination which has significant membership in North America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. While historically originating in the United Kingdom, the largest population of Methodists now lives in the United States, where it is the third largest religious group after Catholics and Baptists.
Every four years, the UMC meets at what they call the Methodist General Conference—a democratic body of representatives from across the world which gathers to construct church decisions. In , the Conference voted to insert language to the church’s law, stating “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching,” and that gay