United Methodists have changed their rules, paving the road for what some are hoping will be a more welcoming denomination. At a May gathering of United Methodists from around the world, members voted to remove language that excluded LGBTQ+ people.

This topic was previously discussed at another General Conference in 2019. Some members were frustrated when the church voted to continue not allowing LGBTQ+ pastors.

But during a recent General Conference meeting, they voted on that issue again. This time, the outcome was different.

What You Need To Know

  • The United Methodist Church voted in May to allow LGBTQ+ people as pastors, and LGBTQ+ weddings on their property/officiated by UMC pastors

  • These rules have been in place since the infancy of the UMC

  • This comes as some local churches have chosen to disaffiliate from the UMC, with some joining the newly formed Global Methodist Church

“I believe that taking out harmful language is only a positive thing in our in our world and in our in our denomination,” said Pastor Alicia Wood, with University United Methodist Church in Syracuse.

For many years, United Methodist churches touted "open hearts, open minds, open doors." But since the early 1970s, shortly after the founding of United Methodism, the door has been closed for LGBTQ+ people.

“Because we’ve been saying God loves everyone, God loves everyone - all. And then we have to say, except for you can't be clergy or except for you can't get married here,” said Wood.

Members from around the world voted to change their bylaws by removing a ban on allowing “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” as pastors, “ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions," and spending money to "promote the acceptance of homosexuality."

“So, it's really exciting news and I only think that it shows how much God's love is open, affirming and loving,” said Wood.

“This has been a struggle for the United Methodist denomination for over 50 years now,” said Ian Urriola, a lifelong United Methodist, growing up in Rochester. He describes what happened after the church’s vote in May.

“Celebration just kind of breaks out on the floor. And some queer delegates are leading hymn singing on the floor … and it was just a really beautiful, wonderful moment. And to be a part of that was a true, true blessing, a true joy in my life,” Urriola said. “I'm really excited for this new day of United Methodism.”

One of the differences between when they last voted on this issue in 2019 and now is some churches have chosen to disaffiliate and leave the United Methodist church for a new denomination: the Global Methodist Church, which pledges to enforce restrictions on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage. In upstate New York, churches began leaving last year, before the most recent vote on LGBTQ+ pastors.

According to one list from Upper New York’s United Methodist Church, there are at least 96 churches that have disaffiliated. One church that chose to join the Global Methodist Church is in Webster. Their lead pastor says a vote last March had 82% of their congregation wanting to leave the United Methodist Church. He said he is excited to be part of what he calls a growing denomination.

“I don’t wish any ill will on the United Methodist Church. I’ve been a United Methodist my entire life it was a very sad and difficult decision for me to transfer my credentials from the United Methodist Church to the Global Methodist Church,” said Rick LaDue, lead pastor at Webster Methodist Church.