
Houston Rally
United Methodists rally for LGBTQ inclusion outside the office of the Texas Annual Conference in Houston. (Photo courtesy of Outsmartmagazine.com)
Editor’s Note: Starting with this issue, we’ll publish a weekly update rather than daily compilations. Click here to send updates to United Methodist Insight.
With eyes turned toward the hope of Christ’s Resurrection, United Methodists are still walking through the pain of Crucifixion as more statements supporting LGBTQ inclusion emerged.
Susquehanna Conference Letter to LGBTQ People
Clergy and laity of the Susquehanna Conference, which covers central Pennsylvania and part of southern New York, have published a letter pledging support for LGBTQ people to be included in The United Methodist Church. The letter reads in part:
“God loves you. We love you. Unconditionally. We are saddened and regret the decisions of the most recent General Conference that have deepened the harm done to LGBTQ persons by The United Methodist Church. We seek your forgiveness and confess that we have too often remained silent in the midst of wrongs being committed to our siblings-in-Christ.
“The decisions – tightening restrictions on the ordination of LGBTQ clergy, prohibiting United Methodist clergy from conducting same-sex weddings, banning our churches from hosting same sex-weddings, and adding punitive measures – do not represent our vision of a United Methodist Church truly committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world
“We believe that God expects more of us as a church. We are speaking out against this injustice out of our Biblically-rooted and Wesleyan commitment to seek justice, and our baptismal and membership vows to ‘resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever form it presents itself.’”
Sign the Letter From Susquehanna Conference Clergy and Laity by Clicking Here.
Cal-Pac Ministry Board Issues Solidarity Statement
The Board of Ordained Ministry of the California-Pacific Annual Conference has pledged to consider ministry candidates on the basis of “faithful and holy living” and effectiveness in ministry. From the statement:
“At this historic moment in the United Methodist Church we support all efforts which bring justice to issues of human sexuality. We will continue to give all candidates equal consideration because we believe this is the most faithful way to do our work.
“We stand in solidarity and fully support all of our colleagues, candidates and leaders in ministry, who endeavor to transform our world through God’s grace.”
Mainstream UMC Offers Tips for Interim
In a post titled “Options for the Future,” the Rev. Dr. Mark Holland offers three suggestions for those opposed to the Traditional Plan. Dr. Holland suggests “acts of resistance, evaluate apportioned dollars, and convene a discussion group.”
“Together, we need to form a new future,” writes Dr. Holland. “…Lots of groups are forming. There is no way for all of us to attend all of them. I am grateful for those who are taking leadership and talking about what options are before us. Do this in your local church and annual conference. We need everyone talking about possible future structures for the church.”
Dr. Holland also listed links to sample legislation for groups to consider.
- Sample petitions to Upper New York Annual Conference and Great Plains Annual Conference. Article about the global imbalances in our church.
Media Mentions as of April 17, 2019
Houston-Area Methodists Rally for LGBTQ Inclusion – Outsmartmagazine.com
'This is not who we are as Methodist Christians': Houstonpastor calls for full LGBT inclusion [Opinion] – Houston Chronicle
Overseas UMC leaders felt alienation from US churches over traditional marriage support – Christian Post
Is There Room for Everyone in the Methodist Church? – Chicagomag.com
Letter to My Gay-Loving Methodist Friends: Leaving as an Act of Love by Ken Wilson, Medium
Mayor Pete and the Queering of the American Soul – Steven Paulikas, an Episcopal priest, in the New York Times.
Ending the Cycle of Conflict in the United Methodist Church by Gregory Stover, GregoryStover.com
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.