United Methodist delegates have rescinded their church’s ban on clergy celebrating same-sex weddings

CHARLOTTE, NC – United Methodist delegates on Friday rescinded their church’s long-standing ban on the celebration of same-sex marriages or unions by the clergy and in churches.

The action marked the latest major reversal of a collection of LGBTQ prohibitions and condemnations that have been enshrined in the laws and social teachings of the United Methodist Church over the past half-century.

The 447-233 vote at the UMC General Conference came one day after delegates voted overwhelmingly to withdraw a 52-year-old statement that the practice of homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching” and two days after they had rescinded the denomination’s ban on LGBTQ clergy. .

It’s the UMC’s first legislative meeting since 2019, a meeting that featured the most progressive slate of delegates in memory following the departure of more than 7,600 mostly conservative congregations across the United States as it effectively stopped enforcing the ban on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ people.

The delegates voted to repeal a section in their Book of Discipline, or church law, that states: “Ceremonies celebrating homosexual unions shall not be performed by our ministers and shall not be held in our churches.”

Clergy will be neither required nor prohibited from performing any marriages, according to existing law that the conference confirmed with minor revisions on Friday.

On Thursday, delegates approved revised social principles, or statements of the church’s values. In addition to removing language that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teachings,” that revision also defined marriage as a union between two adults, without limiting it to heterosexual couples, as the previous version had done.

But while social principles are non-binding, the clause removed Friday had the force of law.

Regional conferences outside the United States, however, have the option to set their own rules, allowing churches in Africa and elsewhere with more conservative views on sexuality to enforce bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy. A pending amendment to the church constitution would also allow the Americas region to make such adjustments.

The change does not mandate or even explicitly affirm same-sex marriage. But it lifts their ban. It will take effect on Saturday after the conclusion of the General Conference.

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