On the eve of the global United Methodist Church's meeting that is held every four years, there are questions about where the church will fall on the issue of homosexuality.
A Washington Post report examines the church's views on gays, same-sex marriages, ordaining gay pastors, and other related issues. Currently,
Methodist teachings stipulate that homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching."
More than 100 people who serve the Methodist church
came out as gay in recent days to protest the church's positions on homosexuality. The group, which totaled 111 people, was comprised of pastors, deacons, elders, and candidates for ministry within the church.
The show of support for gay rights comes on the heels of the conference, which the Post reports will include discussion of more than 100 individual pieces of legislation regarding human sexuality.
About half of the church's 13 million members are in the United States, which has softened its laws regarding same-sex marriage. About a third of the followers are from Africa, and they typically have more right-leaning views on gay issues, reports the Post.
A Methodist pastor who married his longtime male partner over the weekend
told BuzzFeed he knows there will be "consequences" for his actions within the church.
"I am completely aware that there are consequences, but I am not afraid," Pastor David Meredith said.
The Rev. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, who teaches theology at the Chicago Theological Seminary, also told BuzzFeed, "This is a very important moment for the United Methodist Church. I think the wedding can inspire empathy among the delegates, because you have a Methodist pastor — this is one of the leaders of the church. This is someone they have ordained, and that is important to other church leaders."
The Methodist General Conference will take place May 10 to 20 in Portland, Ore.
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