Source: The Ledger, The Ledger, Christian Post
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Delegates to the United Methodist Church's General Conference today turned back attempts to liberalize its policy on homosexuality.

By 55 to 45 percent, the delegates rejected a proposal from a legislative committee  leaving in place the position that the practice of homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching.”

The question of the status of gays was likely the most contentious one delegates will deal with in the 10-day conference, which concludes Friday. The result of Wednesday’s debate was similar to votes in the past several General Conferences.

Almost 1,000 delegates from all 50 states and 66 overseas jurisdictions will conclude a 10-day meeting at the Fort Worth Convention Center on Friday. The conference, which meets every four years, sets policy for the denomination, which has struggled over the role and place of gays for more than 35 years.

Advocates for greater tolerance in the church had expressed hope earlier this week after a legislative committee has proposed a sweeping change to the policy. The committee advocated a neutral stance, calling "all members of our community of faith to commitment, integrity and fidelity in their sexual relationships."

The rejected proposal also acknowledged the strong disagreements within the church and asks "the Church, United Methodist and others, and the world, to refrain from judgment regarding homosexual persons and practices until the Spirit leads us to new insight."

Supporters of a liberalized policy have been evident at the conference, sporting brightly colored stoles around their necks. A low-key demonstration has been held outside the convention center daily, but so far the conference has been free of the highly charged atmosphere that marked the past two conferences, during which protests disrupted the proceedings.

That may have helped with the judicial council election when delegates chose five new members to the church's highest court and signaled what some are calling a shift to the left for the council and, some hoped on Monday, for the church as a whole.

Previously, the council had a 6-3 conservative majority but observers count only two members in the new council as conservative. 

Only one of the newly elected council members can be counted on to support the church's current stance that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching and the ban against noncelibate gay pastors, according to Mark Tooley, director of the UMAction program of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, a conservative organization.

Although some see the new council is a shift to the left from its previous makeup, Rev. Adam Hamilton, author of Confronting the Controversies, believes it's "more of a shift to center," as reported by the local newspaper.

"Progressives and centrist United Methodists worked hard to advocate for a slate of candidates they believed would bring greater balance to the council," Hamilton said. "Interestingly, a couple of the candidates appeared on the recommendation lists of conservatives, progressive and centrists."

That's just one sign of subtle change that had caused advocates of gay rights to express hope before today's vote that this could be the year when the United Methodist Church would drop its sanction against homosexuality.

Rev. Troy Plummer, executive director of Reconciling Ministries Network, a gay-rights advocacy group, said Tuesday before the vote that he was "carefully optimistic" about the proposal to liberalize the church's statement on sexuality. He noted that it thoroughly rewrites the policy, reflecting on the nature of sexuality and the profound disagreements about the issue.

"I'm hopeful the delegates would see that as a statement of truth. I feel a different spirit here," he said.

A delegate from Florida, John A. Denmark of Largo, helped craft the proposal. He said Tuesday that the committee was polarized at first, but began to move toward the center as hearings continued. A younger generation wants to move beyond the issue, said Denmark, 30, director of student ministry at Anona United Methodist Church in Largo.

"I truly believe God has been moving us from being labeled liberal or conservative to United Methodist," he said.

"My students have said, 'Why would any Christian say God doesn't condone homosexuality?' This generation sees things differently," he said before today's vote. (It sounds like he'll have some explaining to do.)

The church's current policy -- which will remain -- declares, "The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching."

Full article: Methodists Poised to Move Beyond Gay Issue| The Ledger
Methodists Reject Attempt to Liberalize Chuch's Policy on Homosexuality | The Ledger
New Methodist High Court Shifts Left | Christian Post