General Conference Reverses Decades of Discrimination

By: Aimee Yeager, Director of Communications, Western North Carolina Conference

 CHARLOTTE -- Without any debate from the floor, the delegates gathered for the General Conference of The United Methodist Church voted to remove a ban on the ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy that dates back to 1984. Moments later, cheers and applause erupted from many in the observer section as friends, colleagues, and strangers embraced one another in response to the historic moment of reconciliation and healing.
 
The petition to remove section 304.3 from The United Methodist Book of Discipline was one of 22 pieces of legislation passed as a group in today’s consent calendar, which allows the body to approve legislation in bulk if it does not face heavy opposition in committee and does not have financial implications.  
 
Additionally, the delegates also approved legislation on the consent calendar that would prevent superintendents from penalizing clergy or churches who choose to hold – or who choose not to hold – same-sex weddings. 

“The removal by the General Conference of a single portion of a paragraph in our Book of Discipline, 304.3, now permits us to be open to the gifts of all of the persons God is calling to ordination and service to the church and ends the discrimination against LGBTQ persons in particular," shared Bishop Ken Carter, resident bishop, and Rev. Kim Ingram, director of ministerial services and clergy delegate to General Conference, in a joint statement. "We are grateful to God for many people whose work has led to this moment.”

It is important to note that today’s vote does not compel any clergyperson or church to act against their conscience or understanding of their calling. United Methodist churches and clergy will have the freedom to respond to God's call to ministry in the ways that are best for their contextual and missional communities.