Bishops Respond to Delegates' Repeal of LGBTQ Clergy Ban

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United Methodist bishops issued statements to their regions following the repeal of the ban on ordaining LGBTQ persons as clergy and the prohibition of pastors conducting same-gender weddings in local churches.

The essence of all messages was that decisions on whether LGBTQ persons are qualified to become clergy are still under the purview of district committees and conferences boards. Likewise, the choice to allow LGBTQ couples to have their weddings in United Methodist churches remains in the hands of pastors and congregations.

Here are selections from the bishops' letters published as of May 1.

Bishop John Schol, EPA GNJ video with delegate Rev. Kaleigh Corbett Rasmussen

"We trust our congregations and clergy to discern how they will be in ministry with LGBTQ people in our communities."

Bishop Deloris J. Williamston, Louisiana

Words are powerful.

We see this reflected over and over again in scripture.

... Words have been used to exclude and harm since they were added to our Discipline in 1972. 

In light of that, we first want to acknowledge the deep harm and pain the “incompatibility” language has caused for our LGBTQIA+ siblings in Christ and their families.

To consider any human being incompatible with the teachings of Christ is harmful and dangerous.

We lament the exclusion, pain, and hurt this has inflicted and perpetuated. 

For many in our Conference, the question then becomes, what does this mean for us?

This will not change our appointive process, which is outlined in this appointive cabinet internal working document we are sharing for transparency.

This means that the Bishop and Cabinet will consult with clergy and Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committees to find the best missional appointment for both the church and the pastor.

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Bishop Kenneth H. Carter Jr., Western North Carolina:

We are a Church of Traditionalists, Moderates and Progressives.

While these labels are not always helpful, the statement is true. Even after a five-year period of disaffiliations, we are blessed with people who have a core belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior (grace), a desire to live together in fellowship (connection) and an additional desire to grow in love with God and our neighbors (holiness).  

We are a “purple” church, the recent Duke Endowment research disclosed, and we are a “worldwide” church (I commend to you Bishop Nhiwatiwa’s sermon from this General Conference).

Over one thousand of our people have volunteered and helped to host the General Conference in Charlotte; they have experienced the beauty of our international body and its diversity (1 Corinthians 12).  

United Methodist churches will have the freedom to respond to God’s call to ministry in ways that are best for their contextual and missional communities.  We will do this anchored in the grace of Jesus Christ, in connection with each other, and in our desire to grow in love with God and our neighbor. 

I know United Methodists who have earnestly searched the Bible have arrived at different opinions on this matter. While Jesus did not directly address the specific topic of same-sex relations or ordinations, his teachings provide a foundation for understanding and guiding our stance on these issues.

Jesus emphasized the primacy of God’s love, inclusion, equity and justice. He taught his followers to love one another unconditionally, without discrimination or judgment.

Applying these principles would affirm the rights and inherent worth of LGBTQ+ individuals, recognize and celebrate their relationships within the church, and allow them to serve in leadership roles based on their gifts and calling.

Each church – whether traditional, centrist or progressive – must adapt to the unique mission field context in which it is situated to ensure that its message and ministry resonate with the needs of the people it seeks to serve. Because of this, I expect the diversity of everyone’s opinions, their integrity of faith, contexts, pastoral care and practices of ministry to be honored and respected.

I also recognize that these decisions will add complexity to our lives together as United Methodists.

The most important things have not and will not change. Every United Methodist Church will welcome whomsoever seeks to know Christ and grow in love for God and neighbor. Our communion table and our hearts, minds and doors are open.

We are resolved to be followers of Jesus who seek the loving, just and free world God imagines for all people.

We are resolved to harness and focus our missional efforts on multiplying Jesus’ followers, championing children and youth, maximizing care and healing, pursuing and embracing diversity and telling our story of Christ’s redeeming love.

Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, Holston and North Alabama

What does this mean to the Holston Conference?

  • Pastors will have the right to choose what weddings to perform.
  • Local church Boards of Trustees will have the right to determine which weddings to host.
  • Persons are not prohibited from ordination due to being in a same gender relationship.
  • The Conference Board of Ordained Ministries and District Committees on Ministry will continue to have authority to recruit, examine, confirm the calling of and discern the qualifications of those to be credentialed into licensed and ordained ministry.
  • The Bishop and Cabinet will continue to use careful and prayerful consultation in the appointment process, with the goal of clergy/church matches that result in effective ministry.

These changes in our Book of Discipline do not signal that we are all on the same page in our understandings about human sexuality. Nor do the changes erase the pain that people across the theological spectrum and our LGBTQ brothers and sisters have known in our 50+ years of conflict. However, it provides space in The United Methodist Church for persons with differing experiences and theological convictions to stand. Let us enter into a season of healing as we listen to and learn from one another. This is my hope and prayer in the name of Jesus the Christ, who prayed for our unity.  

Bishop Laura Merrill, Arkansas Conference:

Voices from outside the UMC are already trying to convince our people and churches that they will be forced to act in ways that are not aligned with who they are as a result of these decisions. 

But the fact is that in your local setting, your leadership and members will still chart the course of your ministry, just as is currently the case. 

Let me be clear: the recent decisions of the General Conference do not require action from anyone. While the removal of these restrictions comes as a joyous gift to some of our people and their families and congregations, others may not experience much difference at all. Still, others may be worried about what’s next. Again, no one has to do anything in response. As the newly adopted language reads, we will “not penalize any clergy for performing, or refraining from performing, a same-sex marriage service.” Nor will we “require any local church to hold or prohibit a local church from holding a same-sex marriage service on property owned by a local church.”

This is a good time, however, for conversation. We are entering a new chapter as a church, and we must proceed with care for each other, to guard the health of our body and its members. In closing, I encourage you to remember Philippians 4: 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.