CINCINNATI — The United Methodist Church’s top court has rejected two separate attempts by regional conferences to evade a 2005 decision that allows pastors to bar gays and lesbians from joining the church.
The nine-member Judicial Council reviews the decisions of bishops and regional conferences to determine whether they accord with church rules and court decisions. Seven members of the council were present at the Oct. 25–28 session.
The court said a petition by the Kansas East Annual Conference that said pastors could not deny church membership "solely based on the candidate … being a self-avowed practicing homosexual" was contrary to the high court’s 2005 decision.
While regional conferences and bishops are allowed to express opinions contrary to church rules, they may not direct pastors or lay members to disobey the rules, the court said.
The court also ruled that Bishop Edward Paup of the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference was correct to reject a petition that urged pastors to "voluntarily relinquish" their right to deny membership to homosexuals.
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