Chris Carlson/AP
David Oliver, left, and David Meredith wipe away tears after the United Methodist Church voted to lift the church's ban on LGBTQ clergy on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
CNN
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The United Methodist Church on Wednesday overturned a 40-year ban on gay clergy, marking a historic shift in the church's stance on homosexuality.
CNN previously reported that the church has long been divided into factions over LGBTQ acceptance, and was considering splitting into two churches over the issue.
According to the chronology, in 1984 the church banned “self-identified homosexuals” from becoming clergymen, and subsequently banned homosexual performances and celebrations of same-sex unions, which “could lead to ecclesiastical trials.” Added to the list of sexually indictable crimes. Explore the church's history with the LGBTQ community.
The Methodist community continued to debate, fight, and pray for decades over its stance on gay clergy and LGBTQ members. But Wednesday's vote by the church's highest legislative body signaled a historic shift toward acceptance and inclusion.
In a vote of 692-51, church leaders passed several rules without debate, including overturning both a ban on gay clergy and penalties on same-sex marriage, according to United Methodist News Service. .
After the vote, former United Methodist Bishop Hope Morgan Ward prayed that the church would be used as “peacekeepers and ministers” to “welcome all people into the embrace of God.”
After the vote, members cheered, cried and hugged each other, according to Methodist News Agency.
“We've been doing things like this since the '70s, but they eventually disappeared in a matter of minutes without any discussion. Now we can go about our church business. ” Marilyn Murphy, an observer for the South Carolina Conference of the Church, told the news agency.
LGBTQ advocates within the church welcomed the decision.
Matt Patrick, co-pastor of University United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, told CNN he became emotional after the church announced the decision.
“When the results were announced this morning, I cried because it was such a relief to see justice served after so many years,” he said. “There was a lot of pain to get us here.”
Although the ban on gay clergy has been removed from church regulations, Patrick said efforts will continue to ensure the Methodist church is an inclusive place for all people.
“God knows where it goes from here,” he said.
More changes are expected as Congress continues in Charlotte, North Carolina.
