| Human Sexuality "Homosexual persons no less than heterosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth.... Although we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching, we affirm that God's grace is available to all." From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church--2000, 161G. Copyright 2000 by The United Methodist Publishing House. |
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| 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 homosexual persons...." From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church--2000, 162H. Copyright 2000 by The United Methodist Publishing House. |
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| Qualifications for Ordination "Since the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, self-avowed practicing homosexual are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church." |
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| Ministry of an Elder "Elders are ordained to a lifetime ministry of Service, Word, Sacrament, and Order. " |
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| Ministry, Authority, and Responsibilities of an Elder in Full Connection "Every effective elder in full connection who is in good standing shall be continued under appointment by the bishop." |
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| Appointments to Various Ministries "All elders in full connection who are in good standing in an annual conference shall be continued under appointment by the bishop..." |
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| Unauthorized Conduct "Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches." |
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| General Agency Budget Review "...no board, agency, committee, commission, or council shall give United Methodist funds to any gay caucus or group, or otherwise use such funds to promote the acceptance of homosexuality...." |
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| Chargeable Offenses "...a clergy member of an annual conference... may choose a trial when charged with one or more of the following offenses: (a) immorality; (b) practices declared by The United Methodist Church to be incompatible with Christian teachings...." |
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| Judicial Council Decision 702 "... the words "status" and "self-avowed practicing homosexual" must be defined by either the General Conference or the various Annual Conferences. The decision of the bishop is overruled and these matters are remanded to the Oregon- Idaho Annual Conference and to the General Conference for further action." |
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| Judicial Council Decision 708 "...the decision in this matter does not attempt to define the term 'self-avowed practicing homosexual' nor does it limit the judgment to be exercised by an annual conference as to its understanding of the term and its application of the term in a specific case." |
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| Judicial Council Decision 722 "The bishop's decision is reversed and the West Virginia Annual Conference resolution defining self-avowed, practicing homosexual is illegal." |
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| Judicial Council Decision 725 "The bishop's decision is reversed and the definition of self-avowed, practicing homosexual adopted by the California-Pacific Annual Conference is illegal." |
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| Judicial Council Decision 764 "... an adequate definition of "self-avowed" must address the question of to whom the avowal shall be made so that identification is not dependent on the testimony of others." |
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| Judicial Council Decision 844 "A candidate for ordination to the Order of Deacon who is a "self-avowed practicing homosexual" may not, according to ¶ 304.3, be ordained in The United Methodist Church." |
