The United Methodist Church has repealed its longstanding ban on ordaining gay clergy, signaling a significant shift from a conservative policy that had caused a departure of over a quarter of its US members in recent years.
The church had forbidden “self-avowed homosexuals” from being ordained or appointed as clergy members but the move to repeal the policy passed through overwhelmingly with a 692-51 vote without debate.
Delegates also eased restrictions on gay marriages, removing penalties, erstwhile imposed on clergy for performing or declining to perform same-sex weddings.
“It seemed like such a simple vote, but it carried so much weight and power, as 50 years of restricting the Holy Spirit’s call on people’s lives has been lifted,” said Bishop Karen Oliveto, the first openly lesbian bishop in the United Methodist Church.
Many conservatives had abandoned the church the over the issues of LGBTQ clergy and gay marriage, effectively paving the way for liberals to take control of the church’s structure and implementing the policy change.
The church has over 10 million members globally, with over half of them in the United States.
