The United Methodist Church and HomosexualityOverview: Decisions by church conferences
and courts from 1972 to 1996
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Every four years, a General Conference of Methodist churches from around the world is
held. Modifications of their Book of Discipline are often considered at that conference. 1
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1972: They passed a motion which added the following statement to the
denomination's "Social Principles" document. This followed a four year study into homosexuality:
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"Homosexuals no less than heterosexuals are person of sacred worth, who need the
ministry and guidance of the church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as
the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship which enables reconciling relationships
with God, with others, and with self. Further we insist that all persons are entitled to
have their human and civil rights ensured, although we do not condone the practice of
homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching."
The final phrase "although...teaching" was added to the statement
after a floor debate. This motion has since been reaffirmed in subsequent conferences. In 1992,
it was passed again with a vote of 75% in favor.
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1976: They adopted reports which terminated all funding of gay/lesbian support
groups with church money. 2
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1980: A motion was proposed to add the following phrase to Paragraph 404 of the Book:
"no self-avowed practicing homosexual therefore shall be ordained or appointed in The United
Methodist Church"
It failed to pass.
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1984: They passed a "fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness" statement (Paragraph 402.2) which stated:
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"Since the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching,
self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as
ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church."
Shortly after the UMC statement, the New York Conference passed a resolution stating:
"We deeply regret our denomination's continued oppression of homosexual persons ...
We look forward to the day when the church will accept gay and lesbian persons into full
fellowship."
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1988: The General Conference created a "Committee to Study Homosexuality"
to present a report to the General Council on Ministries. They established a list
of categories for committee membership, in order that it be truly inclusive. In a curious
move, only heterosexuals were allowed to join the committee. No gays, lesbians or bisexuals were admitted.
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1992: The committee was able to reach a consensus on four items:
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The 7 references to homosexuality in the Bible represent
ancient culture and not the will of God. They cannot be taken as definitive.
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Homosexuality is a normal human sexual variant, which can be healthy and whole.
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Covenantal, committed, and monogamous homosexual relationships should be affirmed.
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These conclusions are supported by God's grace, which is visible in the life of lesbian
and gay Christians. |
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A majority report recommended:
"The present state of knowledge and insight in the biblical, theological,
ethical, biological, psychological, and sociological fields does not provide a
satisfactory basis upon which the church can responsibly maintain the
condemnation of all homosexual practice."
A minority report recommended:
"The present state of knowledge and insight in the biblical, theological,
ethical, biological, psychological, and sociological fields does not provide a
satisfactory basis upon which the church can responsibly alter its previously
held position that we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider
this practice incompatible with Christian teaching."
[Emphasis by us]
The committee recommended that Paragraph 72 of the Social Principles be
augmented to include:
G) Rights of Homosexual Persons. Certain basic human rights and civil liberties are
due all persons. We are committed to support those rights and liberties for homosexual
persons. We see a clear issue of simple justice in protecting their rightful claims in
same-sex relationships where they have: shared material resources, pensions, guardian
relationships, mutual powers of attorney and other such lawful claims typically attendant
to contractual relationships which involve shared contributions, responsibilities, and
liabilities, and equal protection before the law. Moreover, we support efforts to stop
violence and other forms of coercion against gays and lesbians.
The homosexual report was "received" by the General Conference, but was
not approved. 3 As a result, Appendix G was not included in the denomination's Book of Discipline .
They did modify the Book to state that:
"We insist that all persons, regardless of age, gender, marital status or
sexual orientation, are entitled to have their human and civil rights ensured."
They further emphasized that Methodists:
"... are committed to support [basic human
rights and civil liberties] for homosexual persons."
It also recognizes that
claims of gays and lesbians to "equal protection before the law" is a
issue of simple justice. However, they did not appear to include the human right
to marry the person to whom one is committed for life, or the right to be considered for
ordination in the UMC.
Also in 1992, the UMC Commission on Christian Unity and Inter-religious Concerns
opened its membership to all members, including gays, lesbians, and bisexuals.
The UMC Judicial
Council later ruled that the Commission's action was constitutional.
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1996: The 1996 General Conference was held during the week of APR-15.
They voted 553 to 321 to add to the Book of Discipline's "Social Principles"
section a statement saying"
"Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not
be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches."
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At the
conference, 11 active and 4 retired Bishops (out of the total of 130 bishops worldwide)
circulated a "In All Things Charity" letter calling for equal rights for
homosexuals, including the right to be eligible for ordination as pastors. "Clergy
from across the United States added their names to the statement, which [by 1998] had
been endorsed by approximately 1,300 United Methodist clergy."
4 The letter
reads, in part:
"We the undersigned bishops wish to affirm the commitment made at our consecration
to the vows to uphold the Discipline of the church. However, we must confess the pain we
feel over our personal convictions that are contradicted by the proscriptions in the
Discipline against gay and lesbian persons within our church and within our ordained and
diaconal ministers. Those sections are Paragraphs 71F (last paragraph); 402.2; 906.12; and
footnote, P. 205."
"We believe it is time to break the silence and state where we are on
this issue that is hurting and silencing countless faithful Christians. We will
continue our responsibility to order and discipline of the church but urge our
United Methodist churches to open the doors in gracious hospitality to all our
brothers and sisters in the faith."
This time, the vote on the "incompatibility" clause was again passed, with reduced majority of only 60%.
On 1996-MAY-9, Transforming Congregations formally expressed concern about the
statement of the 15 bishops. They feel that such a stance by liberal Bishops will
adversely:
"... influence our ability to do transforming ministry with those who are
struggling and overcoming homosexual behavior and desire."
They urged the Council
of Bishops to not "undermine our ministries through your words and actions."
The 1996 conference passed the following resolution about homosexuals in the military:
"Basis: The United States of America, a nation built on equal
rights, has denied the right of homosexuals to actively serve their country while being
honest about who they are. The United Methodist Church needs to be an advocate for equal
civil rights for all marginalized groups, including homosexuals.
Conclusion: The U.S. military should not exclude persons from
service solely on the basis of sexual orientation." (Book of Resolutions
. Page 112).
It took until the 2010's before it became obvious to many conservative Christians that a person cannot change their sexual orientation in adulthood. The most obvious indication of this was the closing of the largest conservative Christian group dedicated to making gays into ex-gays: Exodus International during mid-2013.
Related essay:
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David W. Perkins, "United Methodist Church policy regarding 'Homosexuality'," Archived copy at: http://web.archive.org/
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The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 1992, Paragraph 906.12,
Page 450
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"The Church Studies Homosexuality," Cokesbury, Nashville, TN; (1994) Page 19.
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Jimmy Creech, "Response to the Judicial Charge", 1998-JAN-26
is at:
http://www.iwgonline.org/docs/creech.html
Copyright © 1997 to 2018 by Ontario Consultants on
Religious Tolerance
Last update: 2018-MAY-17
Author: B.A. Robinson
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