The Uned Methodist Church moved toward beg more progrsive and LGBTQ-affirmg durg U.S. regnal meetgs this month that clud the electn of s send openly gay bishop. Conservativ say the velopments will only accelerate their ex om one of the natn’s largt Prottant nomatns.
Contents:
- UNED METHODIST NSERVATIV TAIL BREAKAWAY PLANS OVER GAY CLN
- METHODIST CHURCH ANNOUNC PLAN TO SPL TO PRO- AND ANTI-GAY BRANCH
UNED METHODIST NSERVATIV TAIL BREAKAWAY PLANS OVER GAY CLN
* gay friendly methodist churches *
The Church “implor fai and church not to reject or nmn lbian and gay members and iends. Homosexualy was first openly bated at General Conference 1972, four years after the formatn of The Uned Methodist Church, rultg the addn of first statement on homosexualy.
While affirmg belief that persons of homosexual orientatn are persons of sacred worth who need the mistry and guidance of the church, the statement add that the church “do not ndone the practice of homosexualy and nsirs this practice patible wh Christian teachg.
Sce that time, the church has mataed the posn that “the practice of homosexualy is patible wh Christian teachg. Based on the posns about homosexual practice and marriage, the Church has also mataed rtrictns regardg clergy. Pastors may not be “self-avowed, practicg homosexuals” and may not nduct ceremoni that celebrate same-sex weddgs or unns.
METHODIST CHURCH ANNOUNC PLAN TO SPL TO PRO- AND ANTI-GAY BRANCH
The Uned Methodist Church, wh an timated 10.4 ln members, has current polici that are strongly agast the LGBTQ muny. However, many church lears, cludg lol pastors, wele gays and lbians as church members and support their basic human rights. * gay friendly methodist churches *
Wh a body of over 12 ln members globally, Uned Methodists are not of one md about how to be mistry wh lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer people. Some members feel strongly that the church should uphold s current stanc regardg gay clergy and marriage. While the church has official statements regardg homosexualy, all members n disagree wh the church’s posns and n advote for change policy.
In 2019, a special ssn of General Conference met specifilly to addrs ongog, unrolved divisns regardg homosexualy. Its cisns strengthened rtrictns on ordatn (broang the fn of "self-avowed, practicg homosexual" the footnote to ¶304. One was to clare an abeyance (lay) on submtg or procsg plats related to homosexualy until after a procs for separatn had been approved and the nomatns that may rult om uld hold their first post-separatn General Conferenc.
The agreement about abeyance, though, beme effective immediately among s signers, and many other bishops the Uned Stat have likewise agreed to hold homosexualy-related plats agast clergy abeyance until after a post-separatn Uned Methodist General Conference 2028 term what new polici, if any, will be. The impasse over homosexualy has led to uncertaty about the Church’s future.