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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: |
"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.
| 1976: They adopted reports which stopped any funding of gay/lesbian support groups with church money. 2 |
| 1980: A motion was proposed to add the phrase "no self-avowed practicing homosexual therefore shall be ordained or appointed in The United Methodist Church" to Paragraph 404 of the Book. It failed to pass. |
| 1984: They passed a "fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness" statement (Paragraph 402.2) which stated: |
"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."
| 1988: The 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, gays, lesbians and bisexuals were not allowed to join the committee. | ||||||||
| 1992: The (presumably 100% heterosexual) committee was able to reach a consensus on
four
items:
|
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.
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 augmented.
They did modify their Book of Discipline 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.
Also in 1992, the UMC Commission on Christian Unity and Inter-religious Concerns opened its membership to all members, including gays and lesbians. The UMC Judicial Council later ruled that the Commission's action was constitutional.
This essay continues below.
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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." |
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 now [1998-JAN] has 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 passed with only a 60% majority.
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 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)
| 2000: The General Conference was held
from MAY-2 to 12 in Cleveland OH. Ironically, the conference theme
was: "We Who Are Many Are One Body." Attitudes towards equal rights for gays and lesbians seem to have
hardened. Two weeks previously, charges were laid against Melfin Talbert, a bishop in California. He said that policies in local
Methodist churches that foster "inclusiveness and justice"
take priority over national church law. On MAY-8, a resolution was rejected 705 to 210 that would have required a loyalty oath of any minister assigned to a congregation: "I do not believe that homosexuality is God's perfect will for any person. I will not practice it. I will not promote it. I will not allow its promotion to be encouraged under my authority." |
The delegates passed a resolution reaffirming their belief that homosexual behavior is incompatible with Christian teaching (the vote was 628 to 337). A compromise proposal to replace this statement with one stating that: "Many consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching. Others believe it acceptable when practiced in a context of human covenantal faithfulness," was defeated 585 to 376. This is a 61% majority. A demonstration in support of equal rights for gays which had been peaceful, started singing the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome," and marched onto the stage. Randy Miller of San Francisco asked and was granted permission to address the delegates. He said: "We have broken covenant because this church has broken covenant with us. We were baptized in this church, and grew up in your Sunday schools [only to be excluded as gay and lesbian adults.] The covenant is already broken. We take it as an act of conscience to be forcibly removed from here." About 27 demonstrators were peacefully arrested, including two bishops and at least three ministers. Some delegates and visitors chanted "Shame! Shame!"
Two other resolutions were passed. These repeated decisions of earlier conferences: that sexually active gays and lesbians cannot be ordained (640-317), and that UMC ministers may not conduct "ceremonies that celebrate homosexual union." (646 - 294) This is a majority of 69%, compared with a majority of 63% on a similar resolution at the 1996 convention. A proposal to modify the language so that violations would not be prosecuted was rejected. 5
Rev. Mel White, director of Soulforce an ecumenical gay-straight alliance said: "We think the Holy Spirit has left the United Methodist Church as a denomination. God is for justice, and when you exclude people from a congregation, God goes out the door with the outcasts."Some UMC members are suggesting a schism in the denomination. Rev. James Heidenger, editor of the conservative Good News magazine commented: "Is an amicable departure a better option than continuing to tear away at the fabric of our denomination?...We are pained at their pain, and we don't want to be unloving in our response. But I'm not sure I see a middle ground here."
| 2004: The General Conference was scheduled for APR-27
to MAY-7 in Pittsburgh, PA.
| ||||||||||
| 2006:
The Minnesota Annual Conference of
the United Methodist Church passed nine petitions related to
homosexuality. Victoria Rebeck, communications director for the
Conference said: "The biggest news is that we had a good, respectful
discussion of these very emotional issues and people really listened to
each other." The closest vote was a real squeaker: 358 to 356. It
involved a petition to change the definition of marriage from "a man
and a woman" to "two adult persons," and to delete a sentence
supporting laws that define marriage as between a man and woman. The
resolutions will be passed on to the 2008 General Conference. Reactions:
|
Related essay:
| Is compromise possible, or is schism inevitable? |
References:
- A very complete analysis of the denomination's policies regarding homosexuality can be found at David W. Perkins' site at: http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/4568/
- The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 1992, Paragraph 906.12, Page 450
- "The Church Studies Homosexuality," Cokesbury, Nashville, TN; (1994) Page 19.
- Jimmy Creech, "Response to the Judicial Charge", 1998-JAN-26 is at: http://www.iwgonline.org/docs/creech.html
- "Methodists vote anti-gay," PlanetOut, 2000-MAY-11, at: http://www.planetout.com/pno/news/article.html?2000
- Linda Bloom, "Daily Wrap-up: Delegates honor black members, mark UMW milestone," United Methodist Church, 2004-APR-30, at: http://umc.org/.
- "Prohibit promotion of acceptance of homosexuality," Petition 40255, General Conference, 2004-MAY-4, at: http://www.umc.org/
- "United Methodists approve ordaining gay clergy, marriage," Associated Press, 2006-JUN-02, at: http://www.in-forum.com/
Copyright © 1997 to 2006 by Ontario Consultants on
Religious Tolerance
Last update: 2006-JUN-02
Author: B.A. Robinson
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