After four decades, the United Methodist Church on Wednesday ended a longstanding tradition that prohibited the ordination of practising gay clergy.
The leaders of the church met for the first time since 2019 and overwhelmingly passed the resolution to overturn the “self-avowed practising homosexuals” ban at a meeting in Charlotte, NC, on Wednesday morning, the New York Times reported.
Delegates at the meeting, which was supposed to happen earlier but suffered several delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, also voted to prohibit local leaders from penalising clergy or churches for holding (or declining to hold) same-sex weddings.
The Times reported that votes affirming LGBTQ clergy and churchgoers are expected to be held before the meeting is adjourned until Friday.
The actions followed years of debates within the denomination about issues relating to homosexuality.
Meanwhile, the Wednesday outcome is expected to accept the makeup of the denomination with large numbers of conservative congregations leaving over the decision to loosen the strict restrictions on homosexuality in the church.
