Methodists’ Ban on Gays Under Fire
A month after the United Methodist Church voted to uphold its policies against same-sex unions and gay ordination, the church’s New England conference is leading a backlash of open defiance.
Meeting in Massachusetts, more than 300 delegates to the New England Annual Conference signed the “New England Declaration,” promising to conduct same-sex union ceremonies and welcome gays and lesbians in ordination to ministry.
Although the declaration did not face an up-or-down vote, the document received overwhelming support. It signals the first attempt to push the limits on the church’s policies on homosexuality.
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