United methodist church lgbtq
United Methodist Church will enable LGBTQ clergy, after year ban
BBC News, Washington
The United Methodist Church voted Wednesday to enable LGBTQ clergy to attend 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 hinder clergy and churches from being penalized for acting or declining to act same-sex weddings.
"With the approvals and acceptance of the things todaywe're starting to see the unwinding, unravelling, dismantling of the heterosexism, the homophobia, the hurt and the damage of the United Methodist Church," Rev David Meredith said to United Methodist News.
Conservative members and congregations have left the denomination in recent years over the issues of LGBTQ clergy and homosexual marriage, changing the makeup of the church and paving
LGBTQ Rights
The United Methodist Church is in a day of deep discernment over how to recognize and welcome LGBTQ (lesbian, homosexual, 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 firm 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 same access to housing, learning process, communication, employment, medical protect, legal redress of grievances,
Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ+ Issues: The Together Methodist Church
In May , the General Conference voted to remove longstanding bans on the ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy and the celebration of lgbtq+ 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) group to consider revisions to the Book of Resolutions and the Book of Discipline. Decisions of the General Conference are binding until the next conference convenes. Feedi
Sexuality and the Combined Methodists
Others, enjoy the Episcopals, Presbyterians (PCUSA), and Lutherans (ELCA) hold taken explicit stances in support of LGBTQ inclusion. Of course, individual members of these institutions will have diverse views on the topic, and the stance of an institution does not always express the stance of an individual member; The Joined 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 Combined 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 make church decisions. In , the Conference voted to add language to the church’s commandment, stating “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching,” and that gay ministers and marriages are not allowed in their churches.
Even then, this stance was
.