Overview
Background:
Perhaps no issue in The United Methodist Church is more divisive than that of homosexuality. Passions run high on both ends of the spectrum. Bring up the topic of homosexuality in an Annual Conference session, and tensions begin to rise.
Some United Methodists are pushing for full acceptance of committed homosexual relationships, even among clergy. Others view homosexuality as a deviant behavior, worthy of condemnation by the church. And others are tolerant of homosexual behavior in committed relationships, but do not feel that homosexual individuals should be considered for ordained ministry.
While any gathering of United Methodists will produce multiple views on the topic, most United Methodists will agree that homosexual persons should be loved and supported by the church, even if their behavior is frowned upon. You will also find agreement among church members that behaviors such as promiscuity or pedophilia should not be tolerated in homosexual or heterosexual relationships.
Where the UMC Stands:
This section should include reference to church statements from the Book of Discipline or Book of Resolutions, if these exist for the topic. Given the need for brevity, the statements should be summarized or excerpted. Include links to the full statements (if online) for further reading.
A study committee rewriting the Social Principles asked delegates to the 1972 General Conference to approve a statement declaring “Homosexuals no less than heterosexuals are persons of sacred worth, who need the ministry and guidance of the church . . . . Further, we insist that all persons are entitled to have their human and civil rights ensured.” In floor debate, delegates added the phrase “. . . although we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.” The assembly also added a sentence to the Social Principles: “We do not recommend marriage between two persons of the same sex.”
The 1976 General Conference retained the 1972 position and prohibited agencies from giving funds “to promote the acceptance of homosexuality.”
In 1980, specific reference to homosexual unions was removed from the Social Principles, but included was a statement that said, in part, "We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant, which is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman."
The 1984 General Conference specifically declared that “self-avowed practicing. The 1988 assembly added the phrase “Although we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching, we affirm that God's grace is available to all. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.” That gathering also called for a four-year study of homosexuality. The General Council on Ministries appointed a 27-member committee which recommended that the phrase “incompatible with Christian teaching” be removed. Delegates to the 1992 conference voted 710-238 rejected the task force majority recommendation that the phrase be deleted because of the "lack of a common mind" in the church.
The 1996 General Conference declared that ceremonies to celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by United Methodist clergy or in United Methodist churches; and they asked the U.S. military not to exclude persons from service “solely on the basis of.
The 2000 General Conference added to the Social Principles a new statement: “We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn their lesbian and gay members and friends.” Delegates also asked the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns to engage the church in a continued dialogue about homosexuality.
The delegates to the 2004 General Conference removed the word “since” and made a declaratory statement on May 4 that says, “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.” After the word “teaching,” delegates added the word “therefore” and made a second sentence. The adopted language now reads: “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.”
Following much debate, the delegates defeated a minority report that would have given each annual conference or central conference—regional units of the church—the responsibility of determining how it will approach homosexuality as it relates to a person’s fitness for ministry. Speaking against the minority report was the Rev. Wiley Stephens, a delegate from the North Georgia Annual Conference. He said the report “strikes at our unity as a denomination” and urged the delegates to stay united as they move forward.
Another delegate, the Rev. Tim McClendon of South Carolina, expressed concern about the report because the polity of the denomination is connectional.
The delegates, in a vote of 674-262, reaffirmed the language in The United Methodist Book of Discipline regarding the character and commitment of those seeking ordination and affirmed the church’s standards.
