LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — United Methodists of Arkansas released a statement this week following the church's repeal over its longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy.
This week, delegates within United Methodist (UMC) repealed the church's ban on LGBTQ clergy — the repeal, which came with no debate, aims to remove a rule that forbids "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" from being ordained or appointed as ministers.
At United Methodist's General Conference, the delegates involved voted for the repeal by a margin of 692-51. This was the first legislative gathering that the group has had in the past five years.
Following the repeal, United Methodists of Arkansas released a statement about the General Conference and the decision to lift the prohibitions on LGTBQ clergy. In the statement, the Arkansas branch of the church said that experiences will vary from church to church in accordance to the congregation's leadership.
"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," UMC Bishop Laura Merill said. "Others may be worried about what’s next. Again, no one has to do anything in response."
Bishop Merill goes on to emphasize that the newly adopted language by UMC states that the church will not penalize any clergy for performing or refraining from performing same-sex marriage service — this means that the decision is up to the discretion of local church leadership.
The change doesn’t mandate or even explicitly affirm LGBTQ clergy, but it means the church no longer forbids them. It’s possible that the change will mainly apply to U.S. churches, since United Methodist bodies in other countries, such as in Africa, have the right to impose the rules for their own regions. The measure takes effect immediately upon the conclusion of General Conference, scheduled for Friday.
Bishop Merill went on to call the decision a "good time" for UMC and emphasized that "all who seek to know Christ are welcome in the United Methodist Church."
This repeal was the most noteworthy as delegates of UMC have worked over the years to lead the church in a more progressive direction, but have been shut-out by conservative members who reinforced the ban and penalties.
In the time since, many of those same conservatives who supported the ban, have now left the denomination.
Also approved at the General Conference was a measure that forbids district superintendents — a regional administrator — from penalizing clergy for either performing a same-sex wedding or for refraining from performing one. It also forbids superintendents from forbidding or requiring a church from hosting a same-sex wedding.
That measure further removes scaffolding around the various LGBTQ bans that have been embedded various parts of official church law and policy. On Tuesday, delegates had begun taking steps to dismantle such policies.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.