United Methodist Church repeals decades-long ban on LGBTQ clergy in landmark vote

The United Methodist Church (UMC) repealed their ban on LGBTQ clergy members on Wednesday.

The ban was enacted back in 1984, stemming from the idea that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.

Since then, a decades long discussion on sexuality and its place within the church has been ongoing.

Back in 2019, United Methodist leaders gave congregations until December of 2023 to choose to separate from the church.

According to a tally by UM News, over seven-thousand congregations made that choice. That’s about a quarter of all Methodist churches in the U.S.

But some members were surprised when it was the more traditionalist congregations that split.

According to the UMC, there were more than 30,000 United Methodist congregations in the U.S. is 2019.

And with a 93% “yes” vote on Wednesday to repeal the ban, could this have had a different outcome if congregations chose not to separate?

“That question, I don’t know, but I think the 93% speaks to, kind of, where our church is now,” Jason Gattis, Senior Pastor of First-Centenary United Methodist Church said.

Ordained ministers within the church were also fined if choosing to officiate any gay marriage, another ordinance that has also been repealed.

“Each pastor will still have the ability to choose what wedding they do or do not want to do,” Gattis said.

To members, this year’s conference and discussion on the issue felt different.

“It was, just seemed like a different culture, where people were wanting to find some resolution to the issues,” Becky Hall, Holston Conference Lay Leader said.

And to them, it’s a step towards neutrality within the church on a divisive issue.

“We’ve already put in some pathways for there to be looked at by annual conferences, pathways to let people re-affiliate,” Hall said.

As far as the future goes…

“We are supposed to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. That’s the Methodist Mission Statement. So, I think a lot of churches are still trying live into that, and we might live into it in a little bit different way, but churches will have that liberty to have the option,” Hall said.

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