As it has been with several denominations, the issue of homosexuality has remained a contentious issue in the last several General Conferences of the United Methodist Church. At the 2008 conference, delegates voted, after an emotional debate, to reaffirm the church’s teaching that homosexual practice is incompatible with Christianity, and to reaffirm prohibition on ordaining of “non-celibate” homosexuals. The decisions led to several hundred people demonstrating and decrying the decision on the conference floor.

At the time, gay advocates seemed to have scored one victory in getting the delegates to approve an amendment declaring that membership to the church was open to “any professed Christian regardless of sexual orientation.” But in July 2009, churches learned the amendment had actually failed because it did not get the required two-thirds ratification from regional bodies.

––RICHARD C. DUJARDIN