Same-Sex Wedding Ruling
A congregation’s trustees cannot prevent their pastor from using church facilities to perform a same-sex wedding, The United Methodist Church’s top court ruled in Decision 1516. The ruling was one of two decisions released by the Judicial Council on April 29, 2025. (Photo by Kathleen Barry, UM News)
May 2, 2025
Dear Friends in Christ in The United Methodist Church,
During our time together as a Council of Bishops we, along with the rest of the church, received Judicial Council decision 1516. We are aware that this decision has created some anxiety and consternation, and we are aware that there are misunderstandings regarding the decision. We thought it helpful to offer some clarifying words.
Judicial Council decision 1516 is a precise and specific ruling that reaffirms the longstanding authority of a pastor to determine the use of church property for religious services, including marriage ceremonies. It also reaffirms ¶341.3 which states: “No clergy at any time may be required or compelled to perform, or prohibited from performing, any marriage, union, or blessing of any couple, including same-sex couples. All clergy have the right to exercise and preserve their conscience when requested to perform any marriage, union, or blessing of any couple.”
As bishops, we expect that the pastors we appoint will continue to exercise their authority with deep pastoral sensitivity to the congregation and community to which they are appointed.
We also affirm that the Judicial Council decision does not negate the powers and duties that apply only in the central conferences. We recognize the varying legal contexts in different parts of the world where The United Methodist Church is in ministry.
Our Connection includes regions where same-sex marriage is not only culturally contested but also prohibited by national law. Decision 1516 does not authorize United Methodist clergy to violate civil law in their practice of ministry.
Furthermore Decision 1516 does not negate the authority given Central Conferences in ¶544.15 A central conference shall have authority to set the standards and policy for rites and ceremonies for the solemnization of marriage, taking into consideration the laws of the country or countries within its jurisdiction……The central conference may delegate the same authority to each of the annual conferences within its boundaries.
If a central conference has set standards and policy that do not permit same-sex marriages, no pastor in the central conference is permitted to perform a same-sex marriage. If the central conference has delegated the authority to set standards and policy for marriage to the annual conferences within its boundaries, and an annual conference has set standards and policy that does not permit same-sex marriages, no pastor in the annual conference is permitted to perform a same-sex marriage.
As bishops, we expect the different regions of the church will respect each others unique legal and cultural context, and again that the pastors we appoint will continue to exercise their authority, however specified in their context, with deep pastoral sensitivity.
It is our hope that these clarifying remarks will ease anxiety and correct misunderstandings. We continue to desire and strive to be a world-wide church this is one with Christ, one with each other and one in ministry to all the world, while recognizing the unique contexts for that ministry.
Grace and Peace,
Bishop Tracy S. Malone
President – Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church