This last summer, I became aware of the Social
Principles of the United Methodist Church. I was overjoyed that we had a stance
on so many issues as a church and glad that we would stand up for ideals, like
the basic right to health care and for women’s rights. I read through them,
knowing that they were just guidelines for the members of the church. However,
if you were speaking for the church as a whole, then they were our official
stance. Right now, I am speaking as a member of this church and as a
disappointed one at that.
I
knew before that the church was not always open to members of the LGBTQ
community, but I did not realize that was our official stance. When I did I
realized just how hypocritical the church can be. The slogan of the United Methodist
Church is “Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.” Yet, the social principal
regarding those of the LGBTQ community becoming clergy in the church states
that:
“While
persons set apart by the Church for ordained ministry are subject to all the
frailties of the human condition and the pressures of society, they are
required to maintain the highest standards of holy living in the world. The
practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore
self-avowed practicing homosexuals are
not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve
in The United Methodist Church.”
Basically,
with this, the church is saying that if a person is open and out about their
sexuality, they are no longer able to be clergy in the church. In other Social
Principles though, this is contradicted. Regarding human sexuality, the church
says that:
“The
United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and
considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching. We affirm that
God’s grace is available to all. We will seek to live together in Christian
community, welcoming, forgiving, and loving one another, as Christ has loved
and accepted us. We implore families and churches not to reject or
condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in
ministry for and with all persons.”
We
see again that the church considers homosexuality incompatible with
Christianity, but it also says to love and accept them regardless. So, just
with these two social principles alone, the official stance is being hypocritical.
This issue divided the church this last summer at the general conference,
between those who wanted to change the principal, and remove the wording of
“incompatible” from the principles and those who want to keep it. Every other Social Principle regarding people who are homosexual is generally open,
accepting, and telling us to love and accept everyone around us, rather than to
reject them. So, why can they not become pastors or clergy? Why can we ask
members to accept a group so fully, yet at the same time marginalize and keep
them from an important aspect of our church?
I
argue that those who are lesbian, gay, or bi-sexual would be invaluable as
members of the clergy in our churches. The impact that they could have on a
church would be great, being able to provide support to youth who are
questioning, provide information and promote acceptance to those who are wary
of people who are gay, and in general increase the membership in our churches.
Many are turned away by the church’s stance on homosexuality, and if the church
accepted them by removing these negative Social Principles and allowed those
who are gay and lesbian to become clergy as well as feel like full, accepted
members of the church, many people, both gay and straight would be willing to
join our church because of our openness to those who are different from
ourselves.
Galatians
3:28 says “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free,
there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” If we are
all one, with the same rights, freedoms and liberties, if Jesus loves us all,
how can we ever feel right by judging or casting out people who happen to be
homosexual? In Matthew 5:10-12, Jesus says “Blessed are those who are
persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God. Blessed
are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil
against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great
in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before
you.” Jesus here reminds us that all people are blessed and loved and that the
Kingdom of Heaven is ours, that as long as we believe in something, our reward
will be great and that those who are most persecuted here on Earth will be
blessed more than anyone else. But should we be persecuting? Telling others
that their ways and their lives our wrong? In essence, claiming that homosexuality
is incompatible Christianity forces us to do exactly the opposite of what Jesus
wants us to do, to love all of those around us.
We are finding all over
our country a very outspoken group of people who claim that homosexuality and
being gay is wrong, should not be practiced and that the people who are
homosexual should be cast aside. But what is that saying about our society? How
can Christians be so mean and marginalizing when Jesus was friends with the
marginalized, with the outcasts and with those whom society outcast? The belief
that people are condemned because of how they are born and live, despite Jesus
having died for ALL of our sins,
just baffles me. Christians preach kindness and loving all, yet for some the
minute they find out that a person is gay is the minute they turn their backs on
them. I implore Christians and United Methodists to remember those bracelets
that were so popular in the 90’s that simply had “WWJD” written on them, and
remember to ask yourselves “What Would Jesus Do?” I think you will find the
answer is to accept, love, and enjoy the company of everyone regardless of
race, gender, sexual preference, or any other aspect that could marginalize a
group of people. Remember, Jesus was friends with a supposed prostitute and the
all dreaded tax-collector. He loved them just as much as he loves all of us,
and accepts all of us regardless of who we love.
To read more about this issue at General Conference and look more into the conversations that occurred:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/04/methodists-homosexual-act-incompatible_n_1476042.html
http://www.unitedmethodistreporter.com/2012/05/after-prayer-gay-rights-protest-ends-for-now/
http://sojo.net/blogs/2012/05/08/why-united-methodist-church-canceled-votes-same-sex-marriage-gay-clergy
Also, I realize that I have not addresses the church's stance on same-sex marriage, which is also deemed wrong and is not allowed. However, I figured that talking about the use of the word incompatible in the doctrine was more likely to change people's minds and is enough of a hot button issue for one blog post. I may post a follow up addressing that issue as it would take just as long to address as this one did.
I hope that this at least causes everyone reading to consider the issue at hand and push for equal rights within the United Methodist Church, just as the church pushes for equal rights for all within the government.
Thank you for your attention,
Elizabeth
