United Methodists have signalled a shift in their historic opposition to same-sex relationships after a denomination-wide leadership conference, the United Methodist News Service reports.
At its meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, the United Methodist Church's Connectional Table, a forum for discussion among national leaders of the world-wide body, affirmed a proposal to remove prohibitive language that makes it an offense under church law for clergy to be "self-avowed practising homosexuals" or to officiate at same-sex weddings.
It adopted the 'third way' in preference to leaving the rules as they were or opting for a fully inclusive approach, as some campaigners have demanded.
The approach would leave the question of whether to perform a same-sex marriage up to individual clergy. Clergy would not be required to bless same-sex unions. Conferences would have the option of ordaining openly gay individuals.
However, the proposal notes that the denomination "historically has not condoned the practice of homosexuality and has considered the practice incompatible with Christian teaching." It also retains the denomination's ban on using church funds "to promote the acceptance of homosexuality".
Any legislation adopted by the Connectional Table would go to the 2016 General Conference for a decision. Keep reading
As one can see from this article, liberal US Methodists are pretty persistent in promoting the gay rights agenda in their denomination. At the same time it must be noted that the United Methodist Church in the United States, like the Episcopal Church, is in decline. The UMC outside of the United States, which is more conservative and opposed to the normalization of homosexuality, the ordination of practicing gays, and gay marriage is growing.
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