United Methodists prepare for votes on lifting LGBTQ bans and other issues at General Conference

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – United Methodist delegates are heading into the homestretch in their first legislative accumulating in 5 years — one that looks on observe to make historical adjustments in lifting their church’s longstanding bans on same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy.

After a break day on Sunday, delegates to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church resumed their paintings Monday and might be assembly all this week sooner than wrapping up their 11-day consultation on Friday

They’ve already begun making historical adjustments: On Thursday, delegates overwhelmingly endorsed a coverage shift that will restructure the global denomination into regional meetings and give the U.S. area, for the primary time, the similar proper as world our bodies to change church laws to suit native scenarios.

That measure — topic to native ratification votes — is observed as some way the U.S. church buildings can have LGBTQ ordination and same-sex marriage whilst the extra conservative out of the country spaces, specifically the huge and fast-growing church buildings of Africa, may just take care of the ones bans.

But whether or not that measure maintains church harmony continues to be observed. The General Conference comes because the American portion of the United Methodist Church, lengthy the country’s third-largest denomination, has contracted significantly. One-quarter of its U.S. churches left between 2019 and 2023 amid conservative dismay over the church’s failure to put into effect its LGBTQ bans amid well-liked defiance.

An offer to overturn the ones bans is headed to the delegates this week, and progressives are positive that they have got the votes to understand their long-held dream.

“It will say to the world about us that we really stand behind our statement that we are a church of open hearts, open minds, and open doors,” stated Tracy Merrick, a delegate and member of First United Methodist Church of Pittsburgh, which has dedicated to ministry with LGBTQ folks.

The denomination has debated homosexuality for greater than part a century. Its Book of Discipline bans “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from the clergy and forbids clergy from presiding at same-sex marriages. It additionally forbids church investment of any advocacy for the “acceptance of homosexuality.”

The delegates can even vote on a brand new set of Social Principles — a wholesale revision of an current set of non-binding statements — which won a committee approval closing week. The new model omits the former model’s declaration that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian educating.” And it defines marriage as a sacred covenant between “two people of faith,” without specifying gender.

Such changes could portend a further fragmentation of the international church. Delegates last week approved the departure of a small but notable part of the body — about 30 churches in Russia and other former Soviet countries, where conservative views on LGBTQ issues are strong.

Some are proposing that African and other churches be given the same chance that U.S. churches recently had to disaffiliate under favorable terms.

Opponents say they already have mechanisms to depart, as some have recently done, but proponents say existing rules are burdensome.

Jerry Kulah of the advocacy group Africa Initiative said that while it will be up to individual conferences in Africa to decide whether to stay or leave the denomination, he believes it’s time to leave.

“We cannot remain in this marriage,” he said. “We can’t be one church preaching different gospels.”

A large majority of African bishops, while affirming their opposition to LGBTQ ordination or marriage, have said in a joint statement they are committed to remaining in the United Methodist Church.

The denomination had until recently been the third largest in the United States, present in almost every county. But its 5.4 million U.S. membership in 2022 is expected to drop once the 2023 departures are factored in.

The denomination also counts 4.6 million members in other countries, mainly in Africa, though earlier estimates have been higher.

Conservative advocacy groups say U.S. churches that didn’t meet the 2023 deadline should have the option of disaffiliating, too — along with the more than 7,000 that have already done so.

The denomination also will be debating policy stances regarding fossil fuels and other issues as well as voting on major budget cuts to denominational programs, reflective of losing thousands of congregations.

The Rev. Tracy Cox, lead pastor of First United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh, said she’s cautiously hopeful for changes to the rules on ordination and marriage. The congregation, which has long been LGBTQ-affirming, held a commissioning service on April 14 for those attending the General Conference.

“If you are called by God to be an ordained elder or deacon, no church, no institution should step in that way,” Cox said. “And as far as marriage goes, when somebody falls in love with someone, we need to be able to help them to raise a family or to be a family in the community where they’re going to serve.”

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