The United Methodist Church (UMC) has reversed a series of anti-LGBTQ policies via a 667-54 vote during the church’s legislative General Conference.
More specifically, UMC delegates voted to:
- Delete mandatory penalties — imposed by a 2019 General Conference — for conducting same-sex marriages or unions.
- Remove the denomination’s bans on considering LGBTQ candidates for ministry. Bishops may now ordain LGBTQ people as clergy or consecrate them as bishops.
- Remove band on funding for gay-friendly ministries. Now, any UMC entity may use funds “to promote the acceptance of homosexuality”.
It can be remembered that from 2019-2023, approximately one-quarter of US congregations left UMC to show their dismay over the denomination’s non-enforcement of LGBTQ bans.
The new development may still cause schism in UMC, particularly for those in Africa, where same-sex activity is criminalized in some countries.
