The United Methodist Church has voted overwhelmingly to repeal its longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy, marking a significant shift from decades of controversy. The General Conference voted 692-51 to remove the rule prohibiting “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from ordination or appointment as ministers.
This change does not mandate or explicitly affirm LGBTQ clergy but removes the church-wide prohibition. The vote is part of a broader effort to dismantle LGBTQ bans within the denomination. Further votes are expected to challenge the church’s long-held belief that “the practice of homosexuality” is “incompatible with Christian” beliefs.
Rev. David Meredith, a gay, married, retired elder and member of the Reconciling Ministries Network, hailed the vote as a step towards dismantling heterosexism and homophobia within the church.
Earlier, delegates voted to eliminate mandatory penalties for conducting same-sex marriages and bans on considering LGBTQ candidates in the network of churches. These votes are historic for a delegation that has been debating LGBTQ rights for over half a century.
However, nearly 8,000 conservative congregations disaffiliated from the church between 2019 and 2023 after the denomination did not enforce its bans around LGBTQ communities.
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