Jonathan LeMaster-Smith

With the passing of the Consent Calendar today (April 30th), several LGBTQIA+ petitions passed.

Petition 20191 – Paragraph 806.9, GCFA Responsibility, strikes the language banning UMC funds from going to LGTBQ causes and replaces it with making sure that UMC fund don’t go towards causes that reject LGTBQIA+. This provision takes effect immediately upon General Conference adjournment.

Petition 20176 – Paragraph 304.5, Qualifications for Ordination, strikes the language added by the Traditional Plan barring district committees on ordained ministry and conference boards of ordained ministry from recommending clergy candidates that don’t meet the requirements in Paragraph 304.1-3.

Petition 20304 – Paragraph 415.6 strikes language prohibiting bishops from consecrating “self-avowed and practicing homosexuals” and requiring annual conference boards of ordained to examine candidates regarding their sexuality.

Petition 20709 – Paragraph 425, Local Discernment of Clergy Candidates, adds an option for elders who are LGTBQ+ to be appointed across annual conferences lines, when they cannot be guaranteed a safe appointment in their home conferences.

Petition 20387 – Paragraph 2711.3, Next Generation UMC #22 – Penalties, strikes language requiring specific minimum punishments for performing same-gender weddings.

Petition 20363 – Paragraph 2701, Building a Fully Inclusive Church, adds “persons with disabilities, economic conditions” to the list of items that should receive special attention regarding judicial proceedings.

Petitions 20360 and 20368 – Paragraphs 2701 and 2702, Moratorium on Judicial Proceedings, sets up a moratorium on all judicial proceedings concerning human sexuality by adding a new subparagraph to 2701 and adding references to 2702. These provisions go into effect immediately upon adjournment.