Gay Today: World

New England's United Methodists
Say 'No More Anti-Gay Bias!'

Compiled by GayToday

Boston, Massachusetts--Over 300 clergy and lay members of the New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC) issued the New England Declaration this week, a statement voicing their support for the full inclusion of gay and lesbian persons in the life of their churches and stating their strong opposition to current anti-gay policies that were publicized during the General Conference of the UMC.

"This declaration stands in stark contrast to the events at General Conference earlier this year, where the United Methodist Church affirmed policies stating that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching," stated The Rev. Richard Harding, a retired pastor from New England and one of the drafters of the declaration.

"The people who signed this statement are saying that as Christians, we believe that sexuality is God's gift to humankind, whether a person is homosexual or heterosexual. The New England Conference signers want everyone to know that ALL are welcome at our table!"

The declaration states that "the church is deeply divided on issues related to God's gift of sexual orientation, and any pretense that we are of one mind only serves to deepen the estrangement and isolation of those who are excluded, and imposes premature closure upon the church's search to faithfully discern the will of God."

It goes on to make three affirmations:

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Related Sites:
New England Declaration and its signers

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1. Human sexuality is a good gift of God (including homosexuality, heterosexuality and bi-sexuality).

2. Loving, monogamous, intimate relationships between persons of the same or opposite gender, are an expression of God's love.

3. Persons of all sexual orientations are equally called to be ordained in the ministry.

According to The Rev. Kathryn Johnson, Executive Director National Office of the Methodist Federation for Social Action, signers of the declaration committed to proclaim in pulpits, Sunday School classrooms and elsewhere, that homosexuality (no more or less than heterosexuality) is compatible with Christian teaching. Last year, New England Conference voted to be a Reconciling Conference, meaning that this Conference is fully inclusive and welcoming to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals and their families.

The Rev. Kathryn Johnson

Additionally, 32 retired clergy from the New England Conference signed a statement last year stating that they would be willing to perform same sex unions despite a church law prohibiting union ceremonies between two people of the same sex.