MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — United Methodist bishops have tabled a proposal that would have loosened restrictions in the church’s mostly conservative policies on homosexuality. The bishops, meeting April 29–May 4 outside Myrtle Beach, S.C., decided to keep the church’s current policy — adopted in 1972 — intact. It calls homosexual activity “incompatible with Christian teaching.”
A bishops’ subcommittee had proposed language saying the church does not condone sexual activity “outside the bonds of a faithful, loving and committed relationship between two persons; marriage, where legally possible.”
The bishops’ administrative committee tabled the measure because it “would not have been for the betterment of the church at this time,” said Oklahoma Bishop Robert Hayes, the committee’s chairman, according to United Methodist News Service.
Because the issue was tabled, it never received a full vote by the assembled bishops and it will not be presented to the church’s General Conference meeting, set for summer 2008 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Methodists, like most other mainline denominations, have been divided by the issue of homosexuality but have turned down several efforts in recent years to overturn the current policy. (TAB)
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