United Methodist Church Lifts Bans on LGBTQ+ Clergy and Same-Sex Marriage

In a historic move, the United Methodist Church (UMC) has voted to repeal its longstanding bans on LGBTQ+ clergy and same-sex marriage celebrations at its General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. The decision, made on Friday, marks a significant shift for the third-largest organized Christian group in America, ending decades of disagreement and congregation disassociation over the church's stance on LGBTQ+ issues.

Why this matters: This decision reflects a growing trend of acceptance and inclusivity towards the LGBTQ+ community, and its implications will be felt beyond the United Methodist Church, influencing the broader Christian community and society as a whole. The repeal of these bans also sets a precedent for other religious institutions to reexamine their own policies and stance on LGBTQ+ issues.

The UMC's General Conference, the denomination's legislative body which meets every four years, voted 447-233 to repeal the ban on same-sex marriage celebrations by clergy and in churches. This vote came after delegates overwhelmingly approved the repeal of a 52-year-old declaration that homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching" on Thursday. Earlier in the week, delegates had also repealed the denomination's ban on LGBTQ+ clergy.

The repealed clause in the Book of Discipline, or church law, stated: "Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches." Under the new policy, clergy will neither be required nor prohibited from performing any marriage, according to existing law. Delegates also approved Revised Social Principles, which define marriage as a covenant between two adults, without limiting it to heterosexual couples.

The UMC's General Conference, featuring its most progressive slate of delegates in memory, is its first legislative gathering since 2019. Over 7,600 mostly conservative congregations in the United States have departed from the church since then, citing the church's failure to enforce its bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ ordination. Regional conferences outside the United States have the ability to set their own rules, allowing churches in Africa and elsewhere with more conservative views on sexuality to retain bans.

Rev. Rebecca Girrell of Vermont, who performed a same-sex wedding for two military servicemen, stated, "I promised I would never betray my heart or my call to offer ministry and grace to all persons again. You will never convince me that that was wrong." However, Samuel Cole from Liberia opposed the measure, arguing that it would not be accepted in other parts of the world... only a man and a woman can produce children."

TheUnited Methodist Church's decisionto lift its bans on LGBTQ+ clergy and same-sex marriage celebrations marks a pivotal moment in the denomination's history. The change, which takes effect on Saturday following the close of General Conference, aligns the church with the growing acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights in many parts of the world, while also highlighting the ongoing divisions within the global church community on issues of sexuality and inclusion.

Key Takeaways

• United Methodist Church (UMC) repeals ban on LGBTQ+ clergy and same-sex marriage celebrations.
• Votes: 447-233 to repeal same-sex marriage ban, 52-year-old declaration on homosexuality also repealed.
• New policy allows clergy to perform any marriage, without restriction, starting Saturday.
• Regional conferences outside the US can set own rules, allowing conservative churches to retain bans.
• Decision marks a significant shift towards acceptance and inclusivity, influencing broader Christian community.