United Methodist delegates have repealed their church’s longstanding ban on the celebrations of same-sex marriages or unions by its clergy. The action marked the final major repeal of a half-century’s collection of LGBTQ bans and disapprovals that were embedded in the laws and social teachings of the United Methodist Church. The 447-233 vote by the UMC’s General Conference came one day after delegates overwhelmingly voted to repeal a 52-year-old declaration that the practice of homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching” and two days after they repealed the denomination’s ban on LGBTQ clergy.
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For the past 52 years, the United Methodist Church had officially declared “the practice of homosexuality ... incompatible with Christian teaching.” But that has ended now that church delegates removed that phrase from their official social teachings at their legislative General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. The action comes a day after delegates removed a ban on LGBTQ clergy. The delegates have replaced the denomination's non-binding Social Principles with a new document. It defines marriage as a covenant between “two people of faith,” without specifying gender. The progressive shift follows the departure of a quarter of U.S. congregations in the United Methodist Church amid disputes over LGBTQ issues.
United Methodist delegates have begun making historic policy changes on sexuality, voting without debate to reverse a series of anti-LGBTQ polices. The delegates voted to delete mandatory penalties for clergy conducting same-sex marriages. They also removed their denomination’s bans on considering LGBTQ candidates for ministry and on funding for gay-friendly ministries. The 667-54 vote removes scaffolding around the United Methodist Church’s longstanding bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage. Still to come later this week are votes on the core of the bans. It follows the departure of one-quarter of U.S. congregations, mainly conservatives dismayed by progressive trends in the UMC. It remains uncertain whether the conservative, fast-growing churches of Africa will stay or go.
United Methodist delegates are heading into the homestretch of a legislative gathering that appears on track to make historic changes in lifting their church’s longstanding bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy. Delegates to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church will be meeting all this week before wrapping up their 11-day session on Friday. They’ve already endorsed a plan to give regions more autonomy in decision-making. But whether that measure maintains church unity remains to be seen. One-quarter of its U.S. churches left between 2019 and 2023, mainly conservative churches dismayed by progressive trends, and some are calling for international churches to do the same.
Thousands of United Methodists are gathering Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, to begin an 11-day denominational General Conference. Typically it is held every four years, but church leaders delayed the 2020 gathering until now due to the pandemic. Hundreds of delegates will vote on policies, though many international delegates are not confirmed as able to attend. It's the first gathering since thousands of conservative U.S. congregations left the denomination over its failure to enforce bans on LGBTQ clergy and on same-sex marriages. Progressive delegates will attempt to overturn these bans. Other proposals include allowing regional autonomy in deciding such policies, and making it easier for international churches to disaffiliate.
FILE - Cristel Cordona, second from left, shows photos of a recent marriage to visiting Guatemalan Cardinal Alvaro Ramazzini, at the St. Anne Catholic Church, in Carthage, Miss., Dec. 20, 2019. Ramazzini was at the parish to participate in a listening session with immigrants impacted by arrests by immigration agents at seven Mississippi food processing plants. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
The United Methodist Church lost one-fourth of its U.S. churches in a recent schism, with conservatives departing over disputes on sexuality and theology. Now the question is whether the church can avert a similar outcome elsewhere in the world, where about half its members live. The question is particularly acute in Africa, home to the vast majority of United Methodists outside the U.S. Most of its bishops favor staying; other voices are calling for regional conferences to disaffiliate. At an upcoming meeting in North Carolina, delegates will tackle various proposals. Options include repealing the church’s ban on same-sex marriage, creating more autonomy for regional conferences to set such rules, and making it easier for international churches to leave the denomination.
The Republican-led Tennessee Legislature has overwhelmingly voted to send Gov. Bill Lee a proposal that would ban marriage between first cousins. The House cast a 75-2 vote Thursday on the bill after the Senate previously approved it without any opposition. But a particularly vocal opponent, Republican Rep. Gino Bulso, took up most of the debate time, as he argued for an amendment to allow first-cousin marriages if the couple first seeks counseling from a genetic counselor. Ultimately, lawmakers voted down Bulso’s amendment and approved the ban proposed by Democratic Rep. Darren Jernigan.
The Virginia Senate has passed a marriage equality bill aimed at cementing same-sex marriage in the Commonwealth, sending it on to Governor Youngkin’s final consideration.
The House gave final approval Thursday to legislation protecting same-sex marriages, a monumental step in a decadeslong battle for nationwide recognition of those unions that reflects a stark turnaround in societal attitudes.
