As long as most of us can remember, the United Methodist Church has had a ban on gay and lesbian clergy members being ordained as ministers or appointed to other leadership roles. In the modern era, that led to a number of protests and internal divisions in the church, but the general conference of the United Methodist Church stood firm. They forbid “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from holding such positions. That suddenly changed this week at the latest General Conference meeting, where almost without debate, the members voted overwhelmingly to repeal the ban by a margin of 692-51. This has sent something of a shock wave through various parts of the greater congregation, to say the least. The lifting of the ban will take effect at the end of the conference on Friday. (Associated Press)
United Methodist delegates repealed their church’s longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy with…
