Delegates at the United Methodist Church general conference are continuing to meet this week to discuss a host of different issues. Key among these issues may be a possible change to long-held bans on same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy members.
This is the first legislative gathering for delegates in five years, and historic changes are already reportedly being made during the 11-day-long conference.
Historic Changes
On Thursday, the delegates at the United Methodist Church endorsed a policy shift for the organization that would restructure it into regional conferences.
This restructuring would give the region for the United States the same rights for the first time as other international church authorities to modify church rules to fit in with local situations.
Adherents in the United States
This move to further decentralize rule-making in the church was seen as a way to help stop disagreements on how to conduct religious practices. Opinions on these topics can vary in different areas of the world.
“The big change this petition brings is really for our brothers and sisters here in the United States, where you would finally be given the right to decide things which only concern you among yourselves, the same right that we have enjoyed for a long time,” said committee member Christine Schneider-Oesch of Switzerland.
Who is the United Methodist Church?
The United Methodist Church is a denomination of the Christian religion that follows teachings around practical divinity and reason from 18th-century theologian John Wesley.
Wesley was responsible for leading a revival in the Church of England that came to become known as Methodism. He was a strict opponent of Calvinism and predestination philosophies, arguing for believers to achieve Christian perfection through spiritual maturity.
LGBT in Churches
With the US region now able to decide its own rules regarding church operations, it is possible that the churches in the United States could see the LGBT ordination of ministers and same-sex marriages performed while more conservative areas like Africa could simultaneously maintain a ban.
Africa has been a fast-growing region for the United Methodist Church in recent years while membership in America and Europe has been declining.
Church Schism
Recently, the United Methodist Church lost connection to one-fourth of the churches in the United States between 2019 and 2023 due to ideological differences around sexuality and theology. Many more conservative members felt the church was failing to properly enforce long-held LGBT bans.
This legislative session by the church hopes to unify members through constitutional amendments like the one establishing regional conferences.
Maintaining Unity
While the United Methodist Church hopes that this conference will help promote and maintain church unity, the conversations at the conference have been described as difficult.
“The delegates are listening to each other, learning from each other, really providing a foundation for the work this week,” said Bishop Karen Oliveto, the first openly lesbian ordained bishop. “There have been hard conversations, but again this tone that we’re in this together. And we have a witness to make to the world that’s unified even in the midst of cultural differences.”
Book of Discipline
Support for church doctrine around banning LGBT practices comes from the Book of Discipline, a book authored by John Wesley himself.
In the book, there is language banning “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from being members of the clergy and clearly forbids same-sex marriage and any action the church would take towards the “acceptance of homosexuality.”
Pushback From African Churches
Jerry Kulah from the advocacy group Africa Initiative is skeptical of this regional conference arrangement and thinks that African churches must decide its time to leave.
“We cannot remain in this marriage,” he said. “We can’t be one church preaching different gospels,” Kulah said.
Defiance From Progressive Churches
Progressive American pushes have been adamant in pushing forward with new ideas despite existing church doctrine and rules.
In the face of restrictions, some groups of more progressive church members have taken to launching their own denominations. One such denomination created in 2020 was called the Liberation Methodist Connexion.
Affiliation or Disaffiliation?
As church delegates from different regions meet, some members from Africa are considering disaffiliating themselves with the main church body over these disagreements. However, a delegate from Liberia named Jefferson Knight thinks a schism would be a mistake.
“The best way out is to regionalize and see how we can do ministry peacefully and do ministry within our context, our culture,” Knight said.
LGBT Vote
Based on the results of the conference so far, it seems likely that the United Methodist Church will overturn historic bans on same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy. The 11-day conference will conclude on Friday and progressive delegates have signaled they are “cautiously hopeful” for pro-LGBT changes.
“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,” said church member Tracy Merrick.
