The General Conference has taken many actions this week that have strengthened the ability of the local church to minister to the people and families in their contexts, across the world, and across Arkansas. I want to speak with you today specifically about the General Conference decision to lift prohibitions on the participation of gay and lesbian people in the life of the church, including our conducting same-sex weddings.
Voices from outside the UMC are already trying to convince our people and churches that they will be forced to act in ways that are not aligned with who they are as a result of these decisions.
But the fact is that in your local setting, your leadership and members will still chart the course of your ministry, just as is currently the case.
Let me be clear: the recent decisions of the General Conference do not require action from anyone. While the removal of these restrictions comes as a joyous gift to some of our people and their families and congregations, others may not experience much difference at all. Still, others may be worried about what’s next. Again, no one has to do anything in response. As the newly adopted language reads, we will “not penalize any clergy for performing, or refraining from performing, a same-sex marriage service.” Nor will we “require any local church to hold or prohibit a local church from holding a same-sex marriage service on property owned by a local church.”
This is a good time, however, for conversation. We are entering a new chapter as a church, and we must proceed with care for each other, to guard the health of our body and its members.
To that end, your conference leaders and I have developed a conversation guide for your use, particularly regarding same-sex weddings. These are based on the importance of our good communication and transparency in our relationships with each other and our decision-making at the local level. You can find that conversation guide on our conference website.
As I travel across Arkansas, one of the things our people are most proud of and committed to is the open table, the table of Jesus Christ. All who seek to know Christ are welcome in the United Methodist Church, and the relationships God has given you in your churches are a holy gift. I therefore hope you will move slowly and prayerfully together.
In closing, I encourage you to remember Philippians 4:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
We’ll have more news from Charlotte soon. In the meantime, may God bless each of you and all of us as the people of The United Methodist Church.
