United Methodist Church ends ban on gay clergy

May 1 (UPI) -- The United Methodist Church Wednesday removed a 40-year ban on gay clergy, overwhelmingly passing the measure during a national delegate meeting in Charlotte, N.C.

The UMC General Conference delegates Wednesday approved an amended policy ended banning "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" from being ordained.

Delegates also approved a policy change that prevents local UMC congregations from punishing clergy or churches for blessing same-sex unions.

A separate change scheduled for consideration later Thursday would remove the actual church prohibition on clergy blessing same-sex unions.

The last LGBTQ+ proposed change would eliminate wording in the church's Social Principles that reads, "the practice of homosexuality ... is incompatible with Christian teaching."

The decisions come after years of disputes that led to roughly 25% of United Methodist conservative congregations leaving the denomination.

In a statement ahead of the conference that opened April 23, the Methodist Church said, "Our deepest desire is to foster greater unity in the Church while recognizing our denomination's diverse theological, social and contextual viewpoints. We find ourselves at a seminal moment in the life of this denomination."

The policy allowing disaffiliation expired at the end of 2023.

That shift left behind a majority of congregations that supported lifting the gay clergy ban.

The Tennessean reported that a large, jubilant crowd spontaneously broke out in celebration, singing hymns and embracing each other.

"Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still. Let this be our song: No one stands alone," they sang from a Methodist song adopted by LGBTQ Christians.

The conservative churches left the UMC after congregations were allowed to leave for "reasons of conscience" in 2019. They were allowed to retain church property and assets as long as they had official approval to leave by the end of 2023.

More than 40% of UMC Texas congregations left.