Methodist delegates vote to reject same-sex unions
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH -- Delegates at the United Methodist Church's General Conference voted Wednesday to adhere to the church's position that marriage should not include same-sex unions and that homosexual acts are not compatible with Christian teaching.
Those guidelines are included in church's Social Principles, which do not have the force of church law but are to instruct the denomination's 11 million members. The nearly 1,000 delegates at the international conference at the Fort Worth Convention Center are struggling with social issues at the conference that ends Friday.
While affirming the existing guidelines about sexuality, delegates also approved a resolution Wednesday opposing homophobia.
Numerous delegates at the crowded session spoke into microphones placed around the convention center floor. One man from Africa said that "we love homosexuals, but we detest what they do."
Others said condemnation of homosexual behavior conflicts with Jesus' message of love and acceptance.
The church must guard against "denying companionship and intimacy in loving relationships just because there are differences of understanding," a Texas pastor said.
The Methodist Book of Discipline says all people are welcome to become members and receive sacraments, and at past conferences delegates have reaffirmed that gays and lesbians are people of "sacred worth." One man, who said he is gay, said the church is a "safe place. ... That should not be sacrificed."
A woman suggested that the Social Principles should be modified: "Let's just say we are all faithful Christians and agree to disagree."
WEDNESDAY'S VOTES
Approved, 517-416, keeping the statement that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.
Rejected, 574-298, a measure that would have changed the church's definition of marriage to include same-sex unions.
Approved, 544-365, a resolution opposing homophobia and discrimination against lesbians or gays.
2 comments:
The number of votes on each issue are of interest. I wonder if they've changed versus previous votes on the same subjects (assuming that there were any). Perhaps progress has been made? I find it appalling that so many people voted against the prohibition on homophobia and descrimination. How could anyone, regardless of their stance on the compatability of homosexuality and christian teachings, beleive that the scriptures or the example of Jesus would justify fear (homophobia) and hate (descrimination). Unbeleivable. So antithetical to everything Jesus stands for.
Thanks Deb. You are right, it is rather shocking that the United Methodists were unable to vote against homophobia. Certainly that made Jesus weep!
I would imagine that the United Methodists, like the Episcopal Church in the past, is hopefully slowly moving towards a more open and accepting position and one that I feel would more closely resemble the position Jesus takes.
Post a Comment