Homosexual Issues Flare Up At Annual Conferences

Homosexuality issues, volatile topics at the recent United Methodist General Conference, continued on the agenda of some of the 66 U.S. annual conferences meeting in May and June.

Here are excerpts from actions in some annual conferences:

Western Pennsylvania: Members approved a resolution proposed by leaders of opposing factions in the conference. The statement calls for both sides to seek to "understand rather than debate one another, with an attitude marked by a willingness to hear each other's stories."

Desert Southwest: The conference called on members "to be in an attitude of prayer and discernment to seek guidance from the Bible, tradition, experience and reason and the Holy Spirit." Members were also asked to "reach out to each other in a spirit of love, forgiveness and mutual respect" while continuing to "struggle with our differing beliefs on homosexuality and on other important matters."

Alabama-West Florida: Members asked United Methodist-related Emory University in Atlanta to comply with the denomination's policies regarding homosexuality. The resolution, presented by a local church in Pensacola, Fla., specifically objects to the school providing health benefits to domestic partners and allowing same-sex union ceremonies on campus. Emory trustees determined earlier that the school would allow such ceremonies only by those religious groups that were formally represented on campus and that belonged to a denomination that normally approves such ceremonies.

Baltimore-Washington: Members recognized the "brokenness" of the church on the issue of homosexuality and committed themselves to prayer, study and conversation.

New York Conference expressed its commitment to be inclusive and established a task force on the full inclusion of gay and lesbian individuals. It also expressed support for bishops arrested during homosexual-rights protests during the General Conference.

North Carolina: Adopted a resolution calling for study and prayer on the issue, which was then referred to the church's Judicial Council for a ruling on its legality.

Southern New Jersey: Following a brief but spirited debate, members denied health insurance to domestic partners of conference employees.

(The current Social Principles are posted on my discussion page and open for debate.)

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