Methodists to Rethink Church Stand on Gays
WASHINGTON -- The United Methodist Church’s 2004 General Conference will debate changing the denomination’s stand against homosexual conduct despite heavy support for existing policy at the last gathering in 2000.
The denomination’s Board of Church and Society has voted 20 to 12 to make another attempt to eliminate the church’s statement that “we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.”
The board wants this substitute: “Although faithful Christians disagree on the compatibility of homosexual practice with Christian teaching, we affirm that God’s grace is available to all.”
A minority of board members favored the current language and a moratorium on further debate.
With 8.3 million members, the United Methodist Church is America’s second-largest Protestant body.
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