1. United Methodists Seeking a Way Forward

2. The United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church was formed on April 23, 1968, as a merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and Methodist Church.
It’s important to realize that at the time of the merger, there was vast social change going on in the United States. There were ongoing protests against Vietnam led by the Youth Movement, Jim Crow laws had recently fallen and1964 had witnessed Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act.
And, 1968 itself was a particularly chaotic year. 19 days before the merger, Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered in Memphis. Robert “Bobby” Kennedy would be assassinated in June. Vietnam was still in full swing. In November, Nixon would be elected president of the United States.
It was a difficult time in American history and the ensuing years would see vast changes in American culture. The Evangelical Right assumed more political powers in the 1970s, 1980s, and beyond.
Some of this was tied to forces outside of the denomination’s control. By the 1960s, the birthrate was starting to decline. The legalization of the birth control pill played a great role in hastening this drop further. Suburbs also stopped growing in the 1960s. Further, they diversified more, which caused the white residents to move away. Churches were increasingly attacked by socially progressive individuals in the 1960s and 70s as being “part of the problem” or supporting the status quo and impeding genuine advancement. It should be noted that even when Methodism was growing in the late ‘50s and ‘60s, it was not growing in proper proportion to the national population. By 1960 Methodism’s growth had greatly curtailed in relation to the growth in the national population. The rate of membership increase had fallen to 0.22 between Between it has been 9.36%. Neither stat kept up with the population increase of the U.S. Between , for instance, the population rate increase was 18.5%.
Church building largely stopped in the 1960s; though it would return with vibrant force in the late ’70s and ‘80s.
Formed on April 23, 1968 as a merger of the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist denominations.
The ”Social Principles” of the new denomination were first written between

3. 1972 Social Principles Statement
"Homosexuals no less than heterosexuals are person of sacred worth, who need the ministry and guidance of the church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship which enables reconciling relationships with God, with others, and with self. Further we insist that all persons are entitled to have their human and civil rights ensured, although we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching."
”Homosexuals, no less than heterosexuals, are persons of sacred worth, who need the ministry and guidance of the church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship which enables reconciling relationships with God, with others, and with self. Further, we insist that all persons are entitled to have their human and civil rights ensured.”
On the floor of General Conference, it was amended (by a delegate from the Philippines), “We do not recommend marriage between two persons of the same sex.” And, after civil rights ensured, the language “through we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.”
This ruling effectively began the debate on gay marriage in the church. In December of 1972, the Council of Youth Ministries announced its intention to petition to the 1976 General Conference to affirm that homosexuality “not be a bar to the ordained ministry” and that “homosexuality in itself not be in any way synonymous with immorality.” It determined to not discriminate based on sexual orientation in its hiring practices. Despite this and other activism, the 1976 General Conference maintained the incompatibilist stance. In fact, the Conference went a step further and adopted reports which stopped any funding of gay/lesbian support groups with church money. 

4. Human Sexuality (¶ 162.G.)
”We affirm that all persons are individuals of sacred worth, created in the image of God. All persons need the ministry of the Church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as their spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship that enables reconciling relationships with God, with others, and with self. The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching. We affirm that God’s grace is available to all. We will seek to live together in Christian community, welcoming, forgiving, and loving one another, as Christ has loved and accepted us. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for an will all persons.” UMC Book of Discipline
This is as it stands today. There were some minor language changes in 2004.

5. 1984 General Conference Addition to the Book of Discipline (¶304.3)
“Since the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.” [Legislative Committee; Standards for Ordination]
In the 1980s, test cases on ordination and appointment of gay pastors took place.
At the 1984 General Conference, the prohibition of the ordination of gay pastors was a key agenda point pushed by the evangelical “Good News Movement.”
As a result, the delegates approved “fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness” as a standard for all clergy. The Judicial Council declared that the these words did not forbid gay clergy. (These were popularly known as the “Seven Last Words.”).
The General Conference clarified, “Since the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.”
In April of 1987 the Council of Bishops insisted that “unless ’self-avowed’ homosexuals admit that they are ‘practicing’ that lifestyle, the decision to ordain them rests with the clergy members of each annual conference, not a bishop or the Council of Bishops.”
¶ Qualifications for Ordination – This language can be found here.
In favor
Against 79 22

6. 1996 General Conference Addition to the Book of Discipline (¶ 341.6)
"Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.”
In favor
Against
553
321
The incompatibility clause in the Social Principles was maintained by a 60% majority.
The 1996 General Conference voted 553 to 321 to add to the Book of Discipline's "Social Principles" section a statement saying "Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches."  

7. 2016 Book of Discipline statements (Social Principles)
¶ 162.J Equal Rights Regardless of Sexual Orientation - Certain basic human rights and civil liberties are due all persons. We are committed to supporting those rights and liberties for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation.…Moreover, we support efforts to stop violence and other forms of coercion against all persons, regardless of sexual orientation….…U.S. military should not exclude persons from service solely on basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

8. Overview – Book of Discipline
All are of sacred worth and created in God’s image.
The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.
Equal Rights should be given regardless of sexual orientation.
Marriage is for a woman and a man.

9. Overview – Book of Discipline
All persons are invited and welcomed into membership and participation in UMC. (All are welcome)
“Self-avowed, practicing, homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates for ministry, ordained, or appointed.” (No ordination)
“Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.” (No ceremonies)
No UMC funds are to be used to support gay caucuses or groups or promote acceptance of homosexuality OR violate the commitment of UMC “not to reject or condemn lesbian gay members and friends.” (No funding)

11. 2016 General Delegates by Region
Percentage of Delegates
United States
58.3%
Africa
30%
Philippines
5.8%
Europe
4.6%
“concordat churches”
1.3%
The "concordat" churches with which the denomination has a formal relationship include Great Britain, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Americas.
In 2004, The United Methodist Church welcomed the Protestant Methodist Church of Côte d’Ivoire into the denomination as a provisional annual conference. Four years later, the assembly confirmed Côte d’Ivoire as an episcopal area of the denomination. This has, substantially, bolstered the African membership.
In 2016, there were 864 total delegates.

12. 2016 General Conference May 10-20 Portland, Oregon
Over 100 Resolutions submitted about human sexuality.
Delegates vote to continue using Robert’s Rules of Order to make decisions.
In 2016, over 100 proposals were received about human sexuality. They ranged from deletion of incompatibility clause to letting local churches chart their own paths.
111 Methodist religious leaders revealed their homosexual orientation in an open letter prior to the Conference. 15 clergy and candidates for clergy in the New York Annual Conference did the same things.
Delegates spent 3 days determining whether or not the topic should be discussed in the normal process (allowing committees of delegates to shape the proposals into a final petition) or by allowing all delegates (864) consider the petition (split into teams of no more than 15). By a vote of 355 to 477 against, the proposal to do things out of turn failed. In general, “Rule 44” (which proposed the alternative process) was embraced by those supporting gay marriage and opposed by those against.

13. 2016 General Conference May 10-20 Portland, Oregon
Delegates approved request from Council of Bishops to delay a debate on homosexuality to name a special commission that would completely examine and possibly recommend revisions of every paragraph in The Book of Discipline related to human sexuality.
In 2016, over 100 proposals were received about human sexuality. They ranged from deletion of incompatibility clause to letting local churches chart their own paths.
111 Methodist religious leaders revealed their homosexual orientation in an open letter prior to the Conference. 15 clergy and candidates for clergy in the New York Annual Conference did the same things.
Delegates spent 3 days determining whether or not the topic should be discussed in the normal process (allowing committees of delegates to shape the proposals into a final petition) or by allowing all delegates (864) consider the petition (split into teams of no more than 15). By a vote of 355 to 477 against, the proposal to do things out of turn failed. In general, “Rule 44” (which proposed the alternative process) was embraced by those supporting gay marriage and opposed by those against.
In favor
Against
428
405

14. Commission on the Way Forward Composition Selected by the Council of Bishops 11 ordained elders 2 ordained deacons 11 lay members 8 Bishops

15. The Council of Bishops
The final report was presented to the Council of Bishops in Chicago on April 29-May 4.
The Bishops recommend the One Church Model

16. The One-Church Model
Each conference would be able to decide whether to ordain LGBTQ individuals as clergy.
Each pastor would be able to decide whether to perform same-sex weddings or unions.
Each local church would be able to decide whether to allow same-sex weddings in its sanctuary or receive an openly gay pastor.
Image:  A word cloud was created by the 32-person Commission on a Way Forward as an expression of their prayer for the church in the present moment.

17. The One-Church Model
Those who could not in good conscience participate in same-sex weddings or ordination of LGBTQ clergy would not be required to do so.
Central conferences — church regions in Africa, Europe and the Philippines — could maintain their own standards on ordination and marriage.
The model would essentially make legal what is already happening in some parts of the connection.

18. What’s next?
February 23-26, 2019 Special Session of General Conference in St. Louis, Missouri

19. What can we do?

20. Get More Information
Follow-up Sunday School class August 19

21. Holy Conversations at West End
Sign up today or on-line
“If the One Church Model is approved/not approved, what would your hope for West End be?”
Watch for other opportunities for conversation

22. Pray and Fast Tnumc.org/praying-our-way-forward
Pray daily from 2:23-2:26
Fast weekly from Thursday evening-Friday afternoon

23. Contact Our Delegation
Listening Sessions:
October 21at 3:00 at Donelson Heights UMC
November 4 at 3:00 at Clark Memorial UMC