United Methodist Church Votes Not To Change Position On Homosexuality

By Believe Out Loud

The United Methodist Church voted today not to change the wording in its book of laws and doctrines that calls homosexuality “incompatible with Christian teaching.”   The 572 to 368 vote took place in Tampa, Florida, at The United Methodist Church’s General Conference, leaving many gay rights activists in attendance heartbroken. 

The General Conference is held every four years and draws more than 1,000 voting attendees.  The conference delegates also defeated an additional amendment which would have said that Methodists can agree to disagree on homosexuality and still live together as a church.  Before the conference ends on Friday, two more LGBT issues will come up: ordination of LGBT clergy, and the blessing of same-sex relationships.

The United Methodist Church is the largest mainline Protestant denomination in the United States with a membership of about 7.8 million. Membership outside the US is at roughly 4.4 million members, mostly in Africa and the Philippines, where homosexuality is most often condemned. 

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Image courtesy of Reconciling Ministries Network

Learn more about The 2012 United Methodist’s General Conference