Methodist gay rights
LGBTQ Rights
The United Methodist Church is in a time of serious discernment over how to acknowledge and welcome LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning) people as part of the life and ministry of the Church. The General Conference — the top legislative body of the denomination — adopted a motion that deferred consideration of all legislation related to human sexuality and led to the creation of the Commission on the Way Forward.
We affirm all persons as equally valuable in the sight of God. We therefore work toward societies in which each person’s value is recognized, maintained, and strengthened.
United Methodist Social Principles, ¶In the midst of these debates and disagreements over internal polity, the Church remains steadfast in support for laws in civil society that uphold the rights of LGBTQ people.
“Certain basic human rights and civil liberties are due all persons. We are committed to supporting those rights and liberties for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation.” (Social Principles, ¶J) We support “the rights of all persons to equal
United Methodist Church will allow LGBTQ clergy, after year ban
BBC News, Washington
The United Methodist Church voted Wednesday to permit LGBTQ clergy to serve 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 execute same-sex weddings.
"With the approvals and acceptance of the things todaywe're beginning to see the unwinding, unravelling, dismantling of the heterosexism, the homophobia, the injure 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
Bishop Karen Oliveto is retiring in a few months as a United Methodist bishop.
Oliveto was heartfelt saying those words aloud. As the church's first openly gay bishop, her path was not always certain.
"Every day of my ministry, I've had to wonder, is this the day my ordination will be taken from me?" Oliveto said.
That is, until this year's United Methodist General Conference, the church's global legislative body, voted to overturn every ban on LGBTQ people. The historic changes include a modern definition of marriage as a lifelong covenant between "two people of faith," rather than solely between a man and a woman, and a repeal of its ban on LGBTQ clergy.
The General Conference also struck down a year-old stance on homosexuality being "incompatible with Christian teaching."
"To hear someone say, 'we call for to repent of the damage we've done.' I didn't recognize my body was waiting for that," said Oliveto.
The changes, which are effective immediately, open recent doors for LGBTQ members. One year-old, who wished to travel by J.M., is working toward becoming ordained as a deacon in the Unite
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 set church policy. Approximately 1, delegates (half lay leaders, half clergy) gather to consider revisions to the Book of Resolutions and the Book of D