LGBTQ Inclusion in the United Methodist Church

Since 1972, the United Methodist Church has had an official stance that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. The only other activity we officially declare to be incompatible with Christian teaching, interestingly, is war. Over the years, our “Book of Discipline” (our book of church law which guides us) has been modified to ban “self-avowed practicing” homosexuals from being ordained, to declare that marriage is only between one man and one woman, to ban our clergy from celebrating same sex marriages, and from using official church funds to “promote homosexuality.” At the same time we declare that homosexuals are persons of sacred worth, that God’s grace is available to all.

Two main groups have been working ever since to either maintain our current standards or to change our views. On the one side are those who see homosexuality as sin. LGBT persons are welcome in our churches but they are to remain celibate if single. An unofficial group known as “Transforming Congregations” believes that LGBT persons are in need of God’s healing power in their lives. It would be assumed that some homosexuals would eventually be able to marry someone of the opposite sex.

On the other side is the Reconciling Ministries Network. This group is working for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the life of the church. This includes ordination and same gender marriages. Regardless of one’s sexual orientation or identity, all are to be treated fairly and equally.

There are groups and persons who see themselves in the “middle,” with the transforming folks and the reconciling folks being the “extreme” positions in the church. It’s hard sometimes to tell exactly what is meant by “middle” unless it’s a type of “don’t ask, don’t tell” position. People who take this middle position might be fine with LGBT persons joining our churches and being full participants in the local church while at the same time opposing same gender marriages taking place in the context of the church. This is just one example of how a “middle position” might be a reality in the minds of many United Methodists. There are many variations on this concept of “Methodist middle.”

The United Methodist Church has been praying, researching, discussing, fighting, legislating, debating, voting, writing, speaking, ignoring, side-stepping, and what we Methodists like to call “conferencing” on the topic of homosexuality for over 42 years now. What’s next for the United Methodist Church and the LGBT community? Only time will tell.

But a few days ago, 119 United Methodist clergy in Oklahoma signed an open letter publicly declaring their support for marriage equality and full participation of LGBTQ persons in ordained ministry within the church. The letter was published in Oklahoma’s two leading papers, The Oklahoman and the Tulsa World. In 1998, a similar letter was released — with only 10 signers from Oklahoma. That represents more than a twelve-fold increase in support, with more clergy adding their names daily.  It’s a great sign that not only is full equality being recognized in our states, but also in our church.

 

OPEN LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA

The United Methodist Church’s official teaching is that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching while at the same time God’s grace is available to all. We have church laws in place forbidding clergy from performing same gender weddings and forbidding non-celibate LGBT clergy from being ordained. Nevertheless, there are many United Methodist clergy and laity who are not in agreement with our church’s current rules and teachings. Our denomination allows for open discussion of ideas, dissent, and has a process for creating change in our rules. Our denomination’s top legislative body (General Conference) is the only entity that can speak on behalf of the denomination, yet we know many faithful United Methodist Christians wish to see a church fully inclusive of the LGBT community. We respectfully and humbly argue that United Methodists are not of one mind in our understanding of human sexuality and homosexuality. Through our engagement with scripture, tradition, reason, and experience, we have come to affirm the rights and dignity of all persons regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

We celebrate the freedoms coming to the LGBT community in Oklahoma and we pledge our love, affirmation and equal treatment to all persons. We do so as we continue to pray and work for a fully inclusive United Methodist Church.

Signed….

1. Rev. Jim Gragg
2. Rev. Trina Bose North
3. Rev. Scott Spencer
4. Rev. Jack Terrell-Wilkes
5. Rev. Shelly Daigle
6. Rev. Jeni Markham Clewell
7. Rev. Nathan Mattox
8. Rev. Dr. Mark Davies
9. Rev. Paul W. Calkin
10. Rev. Dr. Allen Buck
11. Rev. Deborah Ingraham
12. Rev. Bill Todd
13. Rev. John D. Rusty Williams
14. Rev. Valerie Steele
15. Rev. Glenda Skinner-Noble
16. Rev. Dr. Rex Wilkes
17. Rev. Diana Cox Crawford
18. Rev. David Rose
19. Rev. Susan Ross
20. Rev. Jeannie Himes
21. Rev. Twila Gibbens
22. Rev. Dennis Adlof
23. Rev. Carole Minter
24. Rev. Amy Venable
25. Rev. Ed Light
26. Rev. Anthony Zahn
27. Rev. Margaret A. Ball
28. Rev. Ginger Howl
29. Rev. Dr. Leslie Long
30. Rev. Margaret North
31. Rev. Phil Jones
32. Rev. Denny Hook
33. Rev. Dr. Kirt E. Moelling
34. Rev. Mike DeMoss
35. Rev. Jennifer Long
36. Rev. Sharon Betsworth
37. Deaconess Pat Hoerth
38. Rev. Bruce Davis
39. Rev. David Wiggs
40. Rev. Bill Crowell
41. Rev. Sonja Tobey
42. Rev. Susanna Weslie Southard
43. Rev. Jim Wilson
44. Rev Dr Ellen Blue
45. Rev. Dr. Grayson L Lucky
46. Rev. Dr. Sheila Combs-Francis
47. Rev. Tracy Schumpert
48. Rev. Guy Langston
49. Rev Marilynn Schellhamer
50. Rev Linda Muterspaugh
51. Rev. Kay Shock
52. Rev. James Jones
53. Rev. Marla Lobo
54. Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Box Price
55. Rev. John Price
56. Rev. Dr. Sandy Wylie
57. Rev. Mark Whitley
58. Rev. Joel Betow
59. Rev. Montie Jones
60. Rev. Galeda Jones
61. Rev. Glen Chebon Kernell
62. Rev. Leroy Thompson
63. Rev. Neal Baumwart
64. Rev. Bill Hathaway
65. Rev. Ginny Hathaway
66. Rev. Rebecca Morton
67. Rev. Daniel K Fletcher
68. Rev. Warren K. Russell
69. Rev. Susan Southall
70. Rev. Suzanne Davis
71. Rev. Marilyn Weathers
72. Rev. Ron Weathers
73. Rev. Ken Tobler
74. Rev. Dr. Stan Basler
75. Rev. Neil C Winslow
76. Rev. Dr. Bill Moorer
77. Rev. Josh Langille-Hoppe
78. Rev. Dr. David Severe
79. Rev. Dr. Phil Fenn
80. Rev. John Adams
81. Rev. Terry Martindale
82. Rev. Linda McFadden
83. Rev. Dr. Perry L. Williams
84. Rev. Richard Whetsell
85. Rev. Roger R. Wood
86. Rev. Mary Lue Eastmond
87. Rev. Bob Gardenhire
88. Rev. Michael Asher
89. Rev. David Clewell
90. Rev. David Conrad
91. Rev. April Coates
92. Rev. Dr. Charlotte Teel
93. Rev. Dr. Gene Hunt
94. Rev. Helen Taylor
95. Rev. Dr. William R. Chace
96. Rev. Richard Cato
97. Rev. Adam Leathers
98. Rev. Pam Cottrill
99. Rev. Marcia Shoemaker
100. Rev. Linda Lusnia
101. Rev. Carolyn Murrow
102. Rev. Dan Frisby
103. Rev. Susan Marks
104. Rev. Charles King
105. Rev. Keith O. McArtor
106. Rev. Don Tabberer
107. Rev. Anne Clement
108. Rev. Norman V Wasson
109. Rev. Ed Cook
110. Rev. Mary Ann Emmons
111. Rev. Mary L. Ewing
112. Rev. Ben D. Ewing
113. Rev. Ruth Karns Atterberry
114. Rev. Sara Pugh Montgomery
115. Rev. Pat Ghormley
116. Rev. Connell Ghormley
117. Rev. Kristiane Smith
118. Rev. John M. Morgan
119. Rev Jen Logsdon-Kellogg

(see the list as it progresses, here)

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SCOTT SPENCER is a native Oklahoman and an ordained United Methodist pastor who has served rural churches, campus ministry, suburban churches, and is currently a pastor in Ponca City, OK.

He is a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community.
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