An Open Letter to the United Methodist Church and all Christians

         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