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| Here I'm handing out water in last year's parade |
Being outside of heterosexuality has always been somewhat divisive within human culture with some societies being more relaxed and others being harsher. Being gay still carries the death penalty in about a dozen countries worldwide and while it may not be enforced as vehemently as it was in yesteryear, that may provide little solace to someone living or traveling there.
When the United States legalized same gender marriage in 2015, it was a landmark decision that many in our country applauded while many others reviled.
The United Methodist Church has also been mixed since almost our outset in 1968 (after The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church combined). Four years after the new beginning, legislation on human sexuality was brought before our highest legislative body, the General Conference. The original petition didn’t support or deny same gender relationships for marriage, but it did state that God’s grace is available to all. It also ended the statement with the language, “We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.”
After this legislation was passed in committee, it came to the floor of the General Conference for a vote where it was amended to include the sentence, “The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.” The amended version passed with the other above sentences left as written.
When I was coming before our denomination's Board of Ordained Ministry for credentialing as a clergyperson in the 1990’s, I argued in my paperwork that our stance was hypocritical if not schizophrenic. How could we implore churches not to condemn gay or lesbian persons if our stance was that their relationships were incompatible with Christian teaching? Doesn’t the amended language do exactly what we tell people not to do? They passed me in spite of my critique which told me that there was wider agreement for a more open position.
I began to support legislation through the General Conference to delete the incompatible sentence and was happy to finally be on the right side of the vote for its removal in 2024. This localized positions within the individual congregations. Our denomination still has conservative churches that choose not to send LGBTQIA+ candidates forward for ministry. They may also choose not to allow them to marry in their churches. But many more are adopting an open stance. Boston Avenue United Methodist Church affirms all people in their calling who are found gifted for ministry. We meet with couples who desire marriage and do not restrict based on biology or physiology but rather counsel them in love.
There is still biblical debate over whether same gender relationships are sinful. I don't believe that they are and have weighed in with a series of videos outlining my own biblical and theological interpretation. If you’re curious, you can view them here: https://bit.ly/Clobbered – feel free to pass this link (or just forward this piece) to anyone who may find the videos helpful.
My support and love of all God’s people is unwavering. But because others still see our LGBTQIA+ siblings as incompatible with Christianity, I will be marching this Saturday, October 11th at 4 pm in Tulsa’s Pride Parade. Fortunately, I won’t have to search for where the parade route begins – it launches from Boston Avenue’s parking lot!
