TAMPA, Fla. — United Methodists concluded their General Conference on May 4 without voting on gay clergy or same-sex “marriage,” a surprising end to a disappointing week for gay activists.
On May 3, the nearly 1,000 delegates gathered in Tampa, Fla., soundly rejected two motions that would have amended the United Methodist Church’s (UMC) book of doctrine and rules, which calls the practice of homosexuality “incompatible with Christian teaching.” After those votes, protesters flooded the convention floor, briefly shutting down the conference.
Conference planners, evangelical leaders and gay and lesbian advocates met later that day and determined that there was little use in holding additional contentious debates on homosexuality, according to several sources. Proposals to ordain gay clergy and bless same-sex unions held little chance of passing, the parties agreed, and so were pushed to the back of the agenda.
The UMC’s policy remains that ministers cannot marry same-sex couples and churches cannot host same-sex weddings.
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