Yesterday the General Conference of the
The petitions are listed in the same order they appeared in the blog.
A petition to amend the statement on a Passion for Education: "the historic United Methodist concern for education is witnessed through commitment to educational opportunity for all persons regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, or economic or social background; and..."
Passed 651-218
A petition to ask the church to advocate against all forms of sexism, including (now) those based on sexual orientation, and to ask the General Board of Church and Society to develop resources to educate local churches about issues and effects of homophobia and heterosexism.
Passed 544-365
A petition to maintain the ban on homosexual unions. This is in the list of pastoral "unauthorized conduct" -- "Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches." Rationale: This is the sentiment of most members, most US citizens and of many other countries. The church should not give its approval, which would be inconsistent with 161G (see below). The policy is necessary to maintain church unity (from the submitters rationale).
Passed 568-312
In spite of 161G, the church should support the rights of homosexual people, including shared resource and mutual power of attorney. A petition to add support of the right to civil unions.
Failed 405-483
A petition to expand the sanctity of marriage to include committed unions and change the definition of marriage from one man and one woman to two adult persons.
Failed 298-574
A petition to completely replace the discussion of human sexuality (known as paragraph 161G) had an extended and complicated amendment process. This includes a substitution of the original petition with a minority report petition, which was also heavily amended with some of these amendments approved by counted votes and some by a show of hands. The final version kept the words, "Homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching," the phrase on which all the other anti-gay regulations are built. It also deleted the sentences, "We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay family members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons."
Passed 501-417, meaning the key phrase was retained by 54.6%, down only slightly from the last GC 4 years ago. I note it was approved by only 50.5% of all delegates. Apparently there were 74 abstentions. This is apparently tightening the restrictions a bit through remaining silent on tossing gay kids out of the family and through no longer pretending to welcome gay people.
A petition about the readiness of membership. A minority report stating the pastor has the responsibility of discerning one's readiness to take vows of membership.
Failed 384-515
Continuing readiness for membership -- a pastor and lay leaders of a church are to counsel all in the meaning of membership and readiness to seek membership and also receive all who are willing to affirm membership vows.
Failed 436-448
I think this means GC punted on whether a pastor can reject a member because he is gay. It appears they rejected petitions on both sides of the issue.
There are a few other petitions dealing with gay issues yet to come up for a vote.
Here is today's news release describing the main vote on 161G taken yesterday. Somehow "clarity" beat out love. Other blog entries speak of the frustration of losing yet again.
I didn't report on all this yesterday because I was in charge of hosting a guest handbell soloist at my church. The concert went well (in spite of a creak in the stage) and both attendance and income were much better than expected. I do not intend to take up a career as concert impresario.
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