Methodist Response to Calls for Same-Sex Marriage

            In recent years there has been a growing difference in how American Protestant Christians approach homosexuality. Since the early 1970’s, when homosexuality was delisted from the DSM, there has been a growing divide among protestants. Liberal protestants have increasingly moved towards tolerance and acceptance of homosexuality while conservative evangelical protestants dug deeper into the disease model. Many within the protestant church have debated whether homosexual couples have a right to be married. A 2016 Pew Research Center poll states that 64% of “white mainline” protestants and only 27% of “white evangelical” protestants favor same-sex marriage. The debate between these two schools of thought has permeated almost every denomination and it remains a major source of contention within the American Protestant Church. This issue can be seen through a recent case study involving the United Methodist Church.

            On February 26^th, 2019, the United Methodist Church voted on a passage in their Book of Discipline, which banned homosexual people from being married or ordained within the denomination. This rule had long been ignored by many Methodist churches while many others have adhered strictly to its ideals. The denomination’s leadership wanted to unify the denomination under a single guiding principle. Towards this end three plans were proposed to be voted on, the most progressive of which would remove the anti-LGBTQ language and officially make the denomination more accepting of these individuals. Many in the United States supported the One Church Plan, which would allow individual churches to choose whether they would support the marriage and ordination of LGBTQ members. Ultimately, the denomination voted in favor of the “Traditional Plan”, which strengthens the anti-homosexual language and adds mandatory punishments for pastors who break the rules set in the Book of Discipline.

            This decision was extremely troubling for many members and churches within the United Methodist Church. Since the February vote there have been measures to challenge and undermine the February decision. Many churches have come out to denounce the decision and state that they will withhold money from the denomination until a new vote is held. In addition, potential plans have surfaced to split the Church into two or three new denominations, all of which would still be allowed to use the “United Methodist” label. The new denominations would remove the anti-homosexual language from the Book of Discipline and allow LGBTQ people to be married within the church. Most United Methodist members do not wish for a denominational split, but some see no other way if they wish to be inclusive of homosexual members.

            While many do not think this issue will lead to a denominational split, it remains to be seen how many churches will end up dealing with the results of the February vote. The Methodist Church is only one of many denominations debating the topic of same-sex marriage. This issue will likely continue to divide the protestant church for years to come.

References:

Fingerhut, Hannah. “Support steady for same-sex marriage and acceptance of homosexuality.” Pew Research Facility, 12, May 2016, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/05/12/support-steady-for-same-sex-marriage-and-acceptance-of-homosexuality/

McFarland Miller, Emily. “‘In this to the end’: LGBT United Methodists express hope, hurt after vote.” Religious News Service, 28, February 2019, https://religionnews.com/2019/02/28/in-this-to-the-end-lgbt-united-methodists-express-hurt-hope-after-vote/

McFarland Miller, Emily. “United Methodists float plans to split denomination after LGBTQ vote.” Religious News Service, 19, September 2019, https://religionnews.com/2019/09/19/united-methodists-float-plans-to-split-denomination-after-lgbtq-vote/

McFarland Miller, Emily. “United Methodists pass Traditional Plan, keep ban on LGBTQ clergy, same-sex marriage.” Religious News Service, 26, February 2019, https://religionnews.com/2019/02/26/united-methodists-pass-traditional-plan-strengthens-ban-on-lgbtq-clergy-same-sex-marriage/

Zauzmer, Julie. “U.S. Methodist leaders lay plans to resist vote against same-sex marriage.” The Washington Post, 29, March 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/03/29/us-methodist-leaders-lay-plans-resist-anti-gay-marriage-vote/