Delegates representing the United Methodist Church at their general conference enacted a series of historic rule changes that will see condemnation of homosexuality stripped away from church doctrine.
Among the many changes, LGBT church members can now become clergy, and the definition of marriage has been redefined to include same-sex couples.
Redefinition of Marriage
An amendment to the definition of marriage was added to official church rules after a long debate that lasted more than an hour between competing delegates from different countries.
The definition still acknowledges marriage between a man and a woman but says this union can also be between “two adult persons of consenting age.”
Changing Definition
The former definition of marriage for United Methodists had stood as church doctrine since 1972. Originally the proposal to change the definition would have changed it to “a sacred, lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith into union with one another and into deeper relationship with God and the religious community.”
However, pushback from church delegates in more conservative areas like Africa led to a compromise to keep the mention of “man and woman” still in the official definition.
Condemnatory Passage
The United Methodist Church looks to the Book of Discipline, a book inspired by the teachings of church thought leader John Wesley, for rules governing church doctrine and member behavior.
In 1972, a passage was added to condemn homosexuality, calling it “incompatible with Christian teaching.” Delegates voted to drop this passage without a discussion in the general conference.
Overturning Clergy Ban
Earlier this week, the delegates voted to dissolve a ban that had prevented the ordination of openly gay clergy members. The ban was overturned with a vote of 692-51.
The conference also overturned a rule that imposed penalties on any United Methodist pastors who would officiate same-sex weddings.
Applause Ringing Out
After the overturning of the clergy ban passed a vote at the general conference, applause rang out in the convention hall, causing some to embrace and shed tears.
“It seemed like such a simple vote, but it carried so much weight and power, as 50 years of restricting the Holy Spirit’s call on people’s lives has been lifted,” said Bishop Karen Oliveto, the first openly lesbian bishop in the United Methodist Church.
Historic Conference
The United Methodist Church conference took place over a span of 11 days between April 23rd and May 3rd where a host of issues were discussed.
This conference was the first legislative gathering of United Methodist delegates in five years and followed a time of turmoil in the church that has seen membership decline.
Opposition to the Changes
Some delegates from Africa and the United States rallied against the new proposed definition of marriage after the vote. Opponents of the changes insist that the redefinition violates Biblical scriptures.
Recently, the United Methodist Church lost 25% of its churches in America due to a schism following conservative pushback against progressive efforts to change church doctrine.
Delegate Protest
Over 100 delegates met outside the convention center where the conference was being held to express dissatisfaction with the marriage redefinition.
“We do not accept a change in the definition of marriage, and we will never accept marriage as anything other than one man and one woman, no matter what the Book of Discipline says,” said delegate Rev. Jerry Kulah of Liberia. “We are devastated now to be part of a denomination that officially contradicts the Bible’s teaching on marriage and sexual morality.”
Church Disafilliations
Between 2019 and 2023, 24 percent of the United Methodist Church membership disaffiliated in the United States, primarily over conservative opposition to the issue of same-sex relationships.
Although the church had rules against LGBT members and same-sex marriage, conservatives felt the church was not doing enough to enforce those bans.
Waning Influence
The United Methodist Church was once the third-largest protestant Christian denomination in the United States by membership alone.
This loss of churches is a huge blow to United Methodists as a whole, which reportedly in February had 4,495 member congregations, 4,300 being from the United States.
Possibility of More Churches Leaving
After this historic vote that overturned the condemnation of homosexuality in the church, the church may now experience a renewed wave of disaffiliation and disassociation.
Rev. Kulah has been warning for months that African churches have been threatening to leave the mainline church. However, The United Methodist Church during this conference voted to eliminate the pathway to disaffiliation, which will make it harder for future congregations to leave.
