A New Era for Love? United Methodist Church Welcomes LGBTQ Clergy and Same-sex Marriages

The United Methodist Church has resolved to enable clergy and pastors to perform same-sex marriages, as well as those who identify as LGBTQ to serve in ministry. “I lived in constant fear every day for 5 years,” Keith Turner, Pastor of Bethel United Methodist Church, explained.

“Whether it was someone in my church or someone in the conference or someone anywhere in the world might choose to do their worst.” Turner was technically not permitted to serve in his position because he is gay, but he now claims he can breathe a sigh of relief.

Turner was technically not permitted to serve in his position because he is gay, but he now claims he can breathe a sigh of relief.

However, because the church’s governing council made that choice, several churches chose to disaffiliate and join the Global Methodist Church, which believes in a more orthodox interpretation of the Bible. They do not believe that persons of the same sex should be permitted to marry in the eyes of the Lord.

However, Muncie Pastor Steve Graves claims to have no hatred toward UMC.

“I still consider the United Methodist brethren and sisters of the body of Christ,” Graves stated. “I just disagree on their interpretation of scripture and some of the things they do.”He claims they had to pay $46,000 to disaffiliate. He held a vote among his members to determine whether they wanted to leave the UMC. Members of the LGBTQ community who serve in the UMC believe that now is the moment for healing, as gay people were previously barred from worshiping.

“This move in the church says to people who have felt excluded or pushed out from faith communities that there is a place for you here,” said Lan Wilson, Associate Director of Diversity, Missions, and Justice at Indiana UMC. Senior leaders hope that this change will help them to better serve their community.

“Churches are more than just places of worship; we are also part of the infrastructure for assisting people in their social lives,” said Julius Trimble, Bishop of the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Methodist churches can still perform same-sex marriages.

According to the Indiana Bishop, there are 640 Methodist congregations in Indiana.