Homosexuality and Methodism

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Methodist viewpoints concerning homosexuality are diverse because there is no one denomination which represents all Methodists. The World Methodist Council, which represents hundreds of Methodist denominations, has no official statements regarding sexuality. British Methodism holds a variety of views, and permits ministers to bless same-gender marriages. American Methodism concentrates on the position that the same-sex relations are incompatible with "Christian teaching", but extends ministry to persons of a homosexual orientation, holding that all individuals are of sacred worth. The following denominations are members of the World Methodist Council.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

The African Methodist Episcopal Church does not approve of the ordination of openly gay persons to the ranks of the clergy in the Church. However, there is no official prohibition at this time against ordination. In a historic decision, which marked the first vote on the issue of marriage rights for same-sex couples by a predominantly African-American denomination, the African Methodist Episcopal Church unanimously voted to forbid ministers from blessing same-sex unions in July 2004. The church leaders stated that homosexual activity "clearly contradicts [their] understanding of Scripture." Nevertheless, although the AME prohibits its ministers from officiating at same-sex weddings, the AME does not have an officially binding policy on gay clergy, and some openly gay clergy have been ordained in the AME. Because it has no official position on ordination, the AME will debate whether or not to ordain gay and lesbian pastors in 2016.

Argentine Evangelical Methodist Church

The church, also called the Evangelical Methodist Church in Argentina, allows each congregation to make its own position. The church has stated that they have "given, on a national level, freedom so that each congregation accompany...these couples. We permit freedom of action in order to bless them".

Church of the Nazarene

The Church of the Nazarene teaches that marriage is only defined for heterosexual couples. As such, the denomination does not allow same-gender marriages.

Church of North India

The denomination, uniting different Protestants including Methodists, takes a traditional stand on human sexuality maintaining that marriage is defined heterosexually. The church opposes the criminalization of homosexuality, but also opposed the consecration of the first homosexual bishop in the Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson. In 2009, the church both opposed the supreme court's decision to criminalize homosexuality, and also opposed same-sex marriage.

Church of South India

The Church of South India (CSI) is a united church representing Anglicans, Methodists, and Presbyterians. The CSI "is a relatively liberal Protestant church which has, since 1984, allowed women to become pastors. 'CSI has been liberal on these issues. It has taken up issues of gender, dalits and landlessness. It has to address the issue of sexual minorities too"'. In 2009, the Rev. Christopher Rajkumar, speaking for the CSI, supported civil rights for gay people. In 2015, St. Mark's Cathedral in Bangalore hosted an event challenging homophobia where the Rev. Vincent Rajkumar affirmed his support for LGBT rights. The BBC has listed the CSI as being among the churches open to blessing same-gender couples.

Evangelical Methodist Church

The Evangelical Methodist Church maintains that the biblical record condemns homosexuality as evidenced in Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27, and 1 Corinthians 6:9-19. It teaches that homosexual practices are "sin leading to spiritual death and eternal punishment. Nevertheless, homosexuality is no greater a sin than adultery, murder, stealing, among others. As a result, practicing homosexuals are barred from becoming members of the Evangelical Methodist Church. Moreover, practicing homosexuals are prohibited from becoming candidates for ordained ministry. The Church upholds that all individuals are entitled to certain rights and protection of the civil law; nevertheless, it opposes all civil legislation that supports homosexuality as a normal life style. All homosexuals who seek faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, and cease to practice homosexual acts are welcomed into the fellowship of the Evangelical Methodist Church.

Free Methodist Church

As stated in the Book of Discipline (A/342) of the Free Methodist Church, it believes and teaches that

“ Homosexual behavior, as all sexual deviation, is a perversion of God's created order (Genesis 1-3). The sanctity of marriage and the family is to be preserved against all manner of immoral conduct (Exodus 22:16-17; Deuteronomy 22:23-28; Leviticus 20:10-16), thus the Free Methodist Church does not recognize the legitimacy or participation in the practice of same-sex marriage.

Homosexual behavior is contrary to the will of God as clearly stated in Scripture (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:8-10).

Persons with homosexual inclinations are accountable to God for their behavior (Romans 14:12).

The forgiving and delivering grace of God in Christ is all-sufficient for the homosexual (1 John 1:9; Hebrews 7:25; Luke 4:18; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The Church has a personal and corporate responsibility to be God's instrument of healing, restoring love to the homosexual seeking recovery of Christian conduct and life-style (2 Corinthians 2:7-8).

The church opposes legislation which makes homosexual conduct or life-style legitimate.

”

Methodist Church of Great Britain

At the annual Methodist Conference in 1993 in Derby, following long debate at all levels of the Church's life on the basis of a detailed report, the British Methodist Church considered the issues of human sexuality. The Derby Conference in 1993 passed a series of Resolutions which still stand. These resolutions are as follows:

“

1. The Conference, affirming the joy of human sexuality as God's gift and the place of every human being within the grace of God, recognises the responsibility that flows from this for us all. It therefore welcomes the serious, prayerful and sometimes costly consideration given to this issue by The Methodist Church.
2. All practices of sexuality, which are promiscuous, exploitative or demeaning in any way are unacceptable forms of behaviour and contradict God's purpose for us all.
3. A person shall not be debarred from church on the grounds of sexual orientation in itself.
4. The Conference reaffirms the traditional teaching of the Church on human sexuality; namely chastity for all outside marriage and fidelity within it. The Conference directs that this affirmation is made clear to all candidates for ministry, office and membership, and having established this, affirm that the existing procedures of our church are adequate to deal with all such cases.
5. The Conference resolves that its decision in this debate shall not be used to form the basis of a disciplinary charge against any person in relation to conduct alleged to have taken place before such decisions were made.
6. Conference recognises, affirms and celebrates the participation and ministry of lesbians and gay men in the church. Conference calls on the Methodist people to begin a pilgrimage of faith to combat repression and discrimination, to work for justice and human rights and to give dignity and worth to people whatever their sexuality.

”

In 2005, the church voted "to offer the prospect of blessing services for same-sex couples", but in 2006 the church voted to step back but did offer "informal, private prayers to couples". In 2013, the denomination initiated a consultation on blessing same-sex marriages, and, in 2014, after same-sex marriage became legal, the Methodist Church decided in favor of allowing ministers to bless same-sex couples entering into civil marriages.

Methodist Church of New Zealand

The Methodist Church of New Zealand, since 2004, has approved of ordaining openly gay and lesbian ministers, and the denomination allows each local congregation to determine its own policy on the issue.

Methodist Church of Peru

The Methodist Church of Peru, an autonomous affiliate of the United Methodist Church, has agreed to discuss the issue of homosexuality and the blessing of same-gender unions. Generally, the denomination is considered to be a progressive church in Peru.

Methodist Church of Southern Africa

The Methodist Church of Southern Africa spoke out against laws criminalizing homosexuality, and, in particular, condemned the anti-homosexuality laws proposed in Uganda. Currently, the denomination is discussing how to approach the issue of same-gender relationships.

Methodist Church of Uruguay

The church, part of the Evangelical Church of Uruguay, "has a ministry with persons of diverse sexual orientations". The denomination "resolved that pastors that wish to minister to homosexuals could do so freely". Since then, some congregations have provided blessing services for same-gender couples.

United Church of Canada

The United Church of Canada, a member of the World Methodist Council, is a united church which resulted from the merger of multiple denominations including Methodists. The denomination is supportive of LGBT inclusion. The church ordains openly gay and lesbian clergy, and, in 2012, elected its first openly gay moderator to lead the whole denomination. Since 2003, the UCC has supported same-gender marriage.

United Methodist Church

As stated in the Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Church holds that "homosexual persons no less than heterosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth." In other words, all individuals are of worth to God. Nevertheless, in keeping with historic Church teaching, it considers the "practice of homosexuality [to be] incompatible with Christian teaching," For this reason, the "United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality" or allow "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" to be "certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church." Nevertheless, some regional conferences, including the Baltimore-Washington and New York Annual Conferences, have voted to ordain and license LGBTQ clergy. The Baltimore-Washington Conference appointed an openly partnered lesbian to the provisional diaconate in a more inclusive approach. The New York body ordained the denomination's first openly gay and lesbian clergy. In April 2016, Bishop Melvin Talbert performed a same-sex marriage as a public sign of his support for change and full inclusion of LGBT persons. The church also provides spousal benefits for non-ordained employees in same-sex marriages.

Based on its teaching, the United Methodist Church prohibits the blessing of homosexual unions by its clergy and in its churches. The breaking of this law is a chargeable offense and rebellious clergy are subject to being defrocked, as was the case in 1987, when Methodist minister Rose Mary Denman, was defrocked for being openly gay. Similarly, in 2005, clergy credentials were removed from Irene Elizabeth Stroud after she was convicted in a church trial of violating Church law by engaging in a lesbian relationship; this conviction was later upheld by the Church Judicial Council, the highest court in the denomination.

The United Methodist Church in addition supports "laws in civil society that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman." On April 30, 2008, at the most recent General Conference, delegates adopted even more conservative language, stating that Christians are called to "responsible stewardship of this sacred gift" of sexuality and that "sexual relations are affirmed only within the covenant of monogamous, heterosexual marriage." Still, in 2015, the Connectional Table, a governing committee of the UMC, voted in favor of supporting a localized option that would permit ministers to officiate same-sex weddings and conferences to ordain openly gay clergy. Additionally, over 15 regional conferences have voted in favor of supporting same-gender marriages.

As a result of decisions made in April 2008 and August 2009, the United Methodist Church entered into full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The latter denomination allows individuals in committed homosexual relationships to serve as ministers, while the United Methodist Church requires gay clergy to remain celibate. Despite the fact that full communion allows for the interchangeability of all ordained ministers between the two denominations, Lutheran clergy who are involved in homosexual activity are prohibited to serve in the United Methodist Church in order to uphold the integrity of United Methodist ministerial standards. Nevertheless, the UMC has a more ambiguous policy regarding the ordination of transgender pastors and, in 2008, the Judicial Council ruled that each regional conference can determine their own policy; as a result, some conferences have ordained transgender pastors.

Several grassroots organizations not officially recognized by the United Methodist Church have also formed around positions on issues relating to homosexuality. The Confessing Movement within the United Methodist Church seeks to continue to protect the United Methodist Church's current stance on homosexuality, if not make it more rigid. Moreover, another movement, Transforming Congregations, is a Methodist ex-gay ministry whose purpose is to "equip the local church to model and minister sanctified sexuality through biblical instruction, personal and public witness, and compassionate outreach. Meanwhile, the Reconciling Ministries Network seeks to change the United Methodist Church's current teaching on homosexuality in order to make the church more inclusive of LGBT people. At the 2008 General Conference of the United Methodist Church, it was decided that the Church would retain its views on homosexuality. However, in 2016, that is again being challenged and, most recently, the Baltimore-Washington Conference voted to affirm LGBTQ people in ministry and in relationships. At the General Conference in 2016, the delegates deferred the issue of human sexuality to the Council of Bishops in what has been described as a "'historic action' toward LGBT equality".

In 2016, after General Conference, several Annual Conferences voted in favor of non-discrimination clauses that effectively allowed LGBTQ clergy and which indicated that those conferences would refuse to participate in any church trials against LGBTQ people. The Baltimore-Washington, California-Nevada, California-Pacific, Desert Southwest, New England, New York, Northern Illinois, and Oregon-Idaho Annual Conferences voted in favor of full inclusion for LGBTQ members and clergy. Additionally, the Virginia Annual Conference voted to petition the UMC to allow LGBTQ clergy and same-gender marriages. The Rocky Mountain Annual Conference voted to not consider sexual orientation when electing a bishop. In 2015, the Great Plains and Greater New Jersey Conferences voted to petition the UMC to allow same-gender marriages. In 2014, the Social and Ethics Ministry of the Central Conference in Germany supported an initiative to propose steps toward the full inclusion of LGBT people. In 2012, the Minnesota Conference had voted to oppose bans on same-gender marriage, and the West Michigan Conference voted that it "expressed sadness" at the actions of 2012 General Conference.

Within the jurisdictions, the Western Jurisdiction and the North Central Jurisdiction have nominated three openly gay candidates for bishop.

Uniting Church in Australia

The denomination has permitted presbyteries to ordain openly gay and lesbian ministers if they opt to do so and churches may bless same-sex couples entering into civil partnerships.

Italian Methodist Church

The Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches, of which the Italian Methodist Church is a part of, voted in 2010 to bless same-sex relationships. LGBT-affirming church leaders said "the references to homosexuality in the Bible needed to be understood taking into account issue of culture and interpretation, to avoid the danger of Biblical fundamentalism."

See also

• Homosexuality and Christianity
• Religion and homosexuality

External links

• Pilgrimage of Faith Research: Research about homosexuality and the Methodist Church of Great Britain.