United Methodists repeal ban on gay clergy, pass other LGBTQ policies

The United Methodist General Conference voted on Wednesday to repeal a 40-year rule against ordaining people who have professed to be homosexually active. The proposal passed with 93 percent approval from the international delegates and will take effect when the conference ends on Friday.

What other pro-LGBTQ proposals have been approved?

• Delegates also approved a measure barring district church leaders from penalizing clergy for not performing same-sex marriages. The change also protects clergy from penalty if they conversely choose not to perform a same-sex marriage. District leaders are also prohibited from requiring or banning churches from hosting gay weddings.

• The conference approved a policy on Tuesday to remove penalties against clergy or churches for holding gay marriages.

• Delegates overturned a ban on LGBTQ people’s involvement in ministry and repealed a rule against using church funds to support pro-LGBTQ causes.

How many congregations have left the conference over these issues? The United Methodist General Conference in 2019 organized a period of time for churches to leave the denomination for reasons of conscience around human sexuality. The Lewis Center for Church Leadership counted more than 7,600 churches—about a quarter of its total—that had disaffiliated with the United Methodist Church before the time period ended in December 2023.

What else could be approved? The conference is also expected to vote on changes to the church’s Social Principles, removing the description of homosexuality as incompatible with Christian teachings. The vote would also change its definition of marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman. The proposed change would describe it as a union between two people of faith.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift on the UMC Conference approving a plan to establish international regions, allowing churches to keep different rules on marriage and ordination depending on location.