United Methodist Church Repeals Ban on LGBTQ+ Clergy

United Methodist Church Repeals Ban on LGBTQ+ Clergy

The United Methodist Church held its General Conference, after a five-year break, this week. Delegate members voted 692-51 to repeal a 50-year ban on LGBTQ clergy, “self-avowed practicing homosexuals,” that prevented members of our community from being ordained or serving as a minister.

Previous General Conferences have been met with much debate regarding the issue, but the ban stayed due to the conservative factor within United Methodist. After the last five years, many of the group's conservative members have left the denomination and the Church has been moving in a progressive direction. The ban repeal goes into effect today after the Conference concludes. Many members and supporting LGBQT advocacy groups were seen tearfully hugging after the repeal was announced.

And just like that: the 304.3 language added that said "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching" and "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" are not to be clergy are REMOVED from the #UMC. 93%! #UMCGC ️‍

— Rev. Jeremy Smith (@umjeremy) May 1, 2024

In addition to the ban repeal, United Methodist also dissolved a measure that penalized clergy for performing a same-sex wedding. It also ensures that the Church can not prohibit a same-sex ceremony. The same measure also does not require clergy to perform same-sex weddings if they so decline.

It is also expected that the Church will be voting on updating its Social Principles to include talk of marriage as happening between two people, not just a man a woman. As it stands now, the Social Principles include the language that the “practice of homosexuality … (is) incompatible with Christian teaching.”

Not everyone was supportive. Social media had some posting how unhappy they were with the direction of the Church.

Sad to see what laughingstock #UMCGC has turned into. They’ve rejected a traditional definition of marriage, endorsed gay & lesbian clergy, & declared that homosexuality is no longer incompatible with Christian teaching. Plus some anti-Semitism to boot.

pic.twitter.com/oaUFExNVwV

— Shane Raynor (@ShaneRaynor) May 2, 2024

Between 2019 and 2023,  7,600 American congregations left the Church because of its progressive direction.  Over 100 LGBTQ people and allies surrounded the convention center where the Conference was held to offer prayer and support. The denomination was placed as the 3rd largest in the US, with 5.4 million US members. These updated changes are not expected to carry overseas to their representation in Africa or Russia. They remain autonomous.

The last sections of the revised Social Principles have been adopted, removing harmful language about our LGBTQIA+ brothers and sisters #umcgc #BeUMC pic.twitter.com/qSopg8VQeN

— Hammett Evans (@BroHammett) May 2, 2024

Got any gay news to report?

Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]