On Wednesday, the United Methodist Church lifted its 40-year prohibition on gay clergy, signalling a historic shift in the church’s attitude on homosexuality.
CNN has reported that the church has long been divided into sections over LGBTQ inclusiveness, with some considering separating into two different churches over the subject.
According to a timeline of the church’s history with the LGBTQ community, in 1984, the church prohibited “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from becoming clergy members, and later added performing or celebrating same-sex unions to “a list of chargeable offences that could result in a church trial.”
The Methodist community spent the next many decades discussing, disputing, and praying over their position on homosexual clergy and LGBTQ people. However, Wednesday’s vote by the church’s main legislative body marked a watershed moment in acceptance and inclusiveness.
According to the United Methodist News agency, church leaders enacted many laws without debate in a 692-51 vote, including repealing the prohibition on homosexual clergy and the sanctions for same-sex weddings.
Hope Morgan Ward, a former bishop in the United Methodist Church, prayed after the vote that the church would be utilised as “peacemakers and servants” and “welcoming of all people into the embrace of God.”
According to the Methodist News Service, members celebrated, sobbed, and hugged following the vote.
“We’ve been doing this since the 1970s, and it was gone in a matter of minutes, with no debate.” “And now we can get back to church business,” Marilyn Murphy, an observer from the church’s South Carolina conference, told the news service.
LGBTQ supporters inside the church welcomed the decision.
Matt Patrick, co-pastor of University United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, told CNN that he became emotional after the church announced the decision.
“I did tear up this morning at the announcement of the vote because it was just a huge relief to see justice had been done after so many years,” he continued. “There’s just been a lot of pain in order to get us to this place.”
Though the bar on homosexual clergy has been lifted from the church rules, Patrick stated that effort would continue to ensure that the Methodist church is an inclusive environment for all.
“Where we go from here, God only knows,” he added.
More modifications are anticipated to occur when the legislative session in Charlotte, North Carolina, proceeds.
Source: Justin Gamble, CNN
