The United Methodist Church has repealed their church’s previous ban on LGBTQ clergy.
In a 692-51 vote among leadership in the church, the United Methodists removed a rule within the church that forbade “self-avowed practicing homosexuals from being ordained or appointed as ministers.”
The decision was made at the United Methodist Church General Conference.
The new repeal applies only to the U.S. United Methodist churches; churches outside the U.S. have their own governing bodies.
United Methodist delegates repealed their church’s longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy with no debate on Wednesday, removing a rule forbidding “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from being ordained or appointed as ministers.
Delegates voted 692-51 at their General Conference — the first such legislative gathering in five years.
That overwhelming margin contrasts sharply with the decades of controversy around the issue. Past General Conferences of the United Methodist Church had steadily reinforced the ban and related penalties amid debate and protests, but many of the conservatives who had previously upheld the ban have left the denomination in recent years, and this General Conference has moved in a solidly progressive direction.Applause broke out in parts of the convention hall Wednesday after the vote.
A group of observers from LGBTQ advocacy groups embraced, some in tears.
“Thanks be to God,” said one.
The change doesn’t mandate or even explicitly affirm LGBTQ clergy, but it means the church no longer forbids them.
It’s possible that the change will mainly apply to U.S. churches, since United Methodist bodies in other countries, such as in Africa, have the right to impose the rules for their own regions.
The measure takes effect immediately upon the conclusion of General Conference, scheduled for Friday.
Per Forbes:
The United Methodist Church on Wednesday voted to lift its ban prohibiting LGBTQ+ members from serving in the church’s clergy—the latest measure in an ongoing effort to revisit the church’s policies on LGBTQ+ members that has divided its congregations in recent years.
The measure was approved in a 692-51 vote at the United Methodist Church’s General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina—a special gathering of church members that occurs every four years, in which church delegates vote on issues that define the church’s stance on various subjects.
It was one of the marquee items included in a collection of other policy changes—including a change that dictates clergy and churches can no longer be penalized for holding same-sex weddings.
Wednesday’s vote comes after the church had already overwhelmingly voted to undo several other LGBTQ+ restrictions Tuesday—including a ban on funding efforts to “promote the acceptance of homosexuality.”