Questions and Answers: 2015 Resolutions on Human Sexuality
At the 2014 Annual Conference Session, members adopted five resolutions on human sexuality, which included 13 specific measures. In general terms, these resolutions call on the Baltimore-Washington Conference and its members to be an inclusive Church that grants full civil and ecclesiastical rights to lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people. The resolutions also call for BWC members to work to do away with church trials for clergy who perform same-gender weddings and to work to change portions of the Book of Discipline that discriminate against LGBT people.
Q: During the Circles of Grace time on May 30, what, specifically, did we vote upon and agree to?
A: Members voted that The Baltimore-Washington Conference will:
Q: Are all the churches within our conference bound by what was approved?
A: The resolutions do not possess the same status of church law as written in the Book of Discipline. Traditionally, Annual Conference resolutions are thought of in terms of covenant. The thoughts and actions adopted in the resolutions will serve as guidelines and also as shared principles as the members, church leaders and staff of the Baltimore-Washington Conference live out their connection together. So, at the core, these resolutions do not “bind” anyone to anything. They simply reflect that the majority of Annual Conference members support the inclusion of LGBT people in the life of the church and ask that this support be considered by conference and local church leaders as they seek to make disciples for the transformation of the world.
Q: What is the impact of these resolutions on the local churches and the conference?
A: The impact of the 13 measures in the resolutions is not exactly clear. Church and conference leaders are examining them, how they fit together, and how they might apply to situations that arise in our life together. The resolutions do not call for any specific action, program, event or funding, so, on the conference level, no immediate, tangible actions are expected. Individual members and local churches will want to discern how the resolutions might, or might not, affect their mission and ministry.
Q: When do these resolutions take effect?
A: They took effect as soon as they were adopted.
Q: Do these resolutions violate or contradict what The United Methodist Church currently teaches about homosexuality and same-gender marriage in the Book of Discipline?
A: The resolutions cannot contradict the Discipline. However, they can be, and some are, aspirational in nature. They advocate for the Discipline to be changed. At the May session, a request was made of Bishop Marcus Matthews for a “ruling of law” to determine if Resolution No. 10 violated the Discipline. Bishop Matthews ruled that it did not. As a matter of course, the denomination’s Judicial Council will review his decision. It will also review another ruling of law, requested of Bishop Matthews about whether the suspension of rules to consider these resolutions in a new way was appropriate. The bishop has ruled that it was.
Q: Does the resolution ending clergy trials mean that the bishop is not going to enforce the Book of Discipline?
A: Absolutely not. Bishop Marcus Matthews, the resident Baltimore-Washington Conference, has pointed out that the Book of Discipline offers a variety of options to bishops before proceeding to trial. However, he also believes his vows as a bishop, including upholding the Discipline, are sacred ones that should not be broken.
Q: Why were all the resolutions from the progressive side? Why were there no resolutions supporting a more traditionalviewpoint?
A: These five resolutions were the only ones submitted that dealt with human sexuality. (Nine resolutions were submitted on other topics.) If others wanted to submit resolutions they were encouraged to do so. However, it is rare that people submit resolutions calling for the upholding of the status quo and current church polity.
Q: What if I or my church want to submit a resolution next year?
A: Resolutions are submitted to the Conference Secretary, the Rev. Mary Jo Sims, each January. Deadlines and guidelines for submitting the resolutions will be posted on the conference website in the fall. Questions about the resolution process can be addressed to Sims at .
Q: What about the faithful United Methodists who are disappointed by the actions taken with regard to these resolutions because they hold a different perspective?
A: United Methodists do not always agree. The makers of these resolutions called for change because they disagree with the current policies of the denomination. One of the greatest strengths of the Baltimore-Washington Conference is our diversity. We are theologically diverse, holding many different viewpoints about how to live out our faith in the church and the world. But we are united by the saving grace of Christ, the love of God and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. It’s okay to disagree. It’s how we live together amid our differences that matters.
Q: What if I agree with the resolutions and want my church to start living out some of the things they propose in a more substantial way?
A: These churches may want to explore the idea of become a Reconciling Congregation. Reconciling churches intentionally welcome all people. There are more than 500 United Methodist communities that have gone through the Reconciling process. There are 10 Reconciling Churches in Maryland and nine in Washington. You can learn more at http://www.rmnetwork.org. The Baltimore-Washington Area Reconciling United Methodists (B-WARM) caucus also has information and resources. Visit www.bwarm.org.
Q: Does the passage of these resolutions mean all our churches must become Reconciling Congregations?
A: No. The thoughts expressed in the five resolutions on human sexuality are shared by many Reconciling Congregations, but churches that want to take on the designation of Reconciling Congregation are asked to go through a process of congregational discernment. Some churches may find they are welcoming to all people but do not feel the need to adopt the reconciling label. Other churches may find themselves at odds with some of the tenants that define Reconciling Congregations. The conference does not in any way dictate whether or not a church chooses to be identified as reconciling.
Q: This talk about laws and legislative process to decide spiritual matters feels inappropriate. Why do we depend on political ways to decide church matters?
A: Founded at the same time as the United States, The United Methodist Church mirrors the U.S. government in many ways: the General Conference is like Congress; the Council of Bishops is like the executive branch; and the Judicial Council resembles the Supreme Court. Annual conferences resemble state governments. The state government has its own rules by which to operate, but they may not contradict national laws.
While this analogy explains how the church governs itself, conference leaders went out of their way at the May session to steer clear of Robert’s Rules of Order and contentious debate. Through the Circles of Grace process, they added elements of discernment, prayer, respect and holy conferencing to the discussion and voting on the resolutions on human sexuality.
Q: What was the final tally on the votes?
A: The votes were:
Q: During the Circles of Grace time on May 30, what, specifically, did we vote upon and agree to?
A: Members voted that The Baltimore-Washington Conference will:
- Support and encourage legislation in the State of West Virginia entitled ENDHA, The Employment and Housing Non-Discrimination Act, which will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Human Rights Act. (Resolution 6)
- Implore the College of Bishops of the Northeast Jurisdiction to cease trials of United Methodist Church clergy for conducting or celebrating same-sex marriages. (Resolution 7)
- Be in ministry with all people, regardless of their economic status, race, age, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, or immigration status. (Resolution 10)
- Commit to work for the full civil and ecclesiastical rights and privileges of all persons,including LGBT persons. (Resolution 11)
- Acknowledge that provisions of the Book of Discipline may do harm and injustice by discriminating against, diminishing, or demeaning our LGBT brothers and sisters, and places us in an impossible situation of following the Gospels and the Wesley Quadrilateral ofScripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience OR the Book of Discipline. (Resolution 11)
- Work together to build a fully inclusive church by committing to be in ministry with all people, regardless of economic status, race, age, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or immigration status. (Resolution 11)
- Stand firm in a belief in the equality and dignity of all the children of God. (Resolution 14)
- Empower our bishop and conference representatives, current and future, to work on behalf of the Baltimore-Washington Conference toward the eventual removal of all discriminatory references and policies in the Book of Discipline and Social Principles that are based on sexual identity. (Resolution 14)Also, BWC members are encouraged to consider:
- Refraining from filing complaints against pastors who perform marriages between gender and sexual minorities, and are strongly encouraged to support LGBT lay members who marry. (Resolution 10)
- Refraining from using conference resources to investigate or enforce a ban on marriages between gender and sexual minorities, or for church trials, or for otherwise disciplining clergy that perform same-sex marriages. (Resolution 10)
- Refraining from using conference resources to investigate the gender or sexual orientation of a minister or candidate for ministry, and consider refraining from using conference resources to enforce a ban on the certification of an LGBT candidate for ministry, or the ban on ordination of an LGBT minister. (Resolution 10)Between now and the 2016 General Conference, BWC members are implored to:
- Put forth proposed changes to the Book of Discipline and Social Principles that permit matters concerning LGBT persons to be discerned by individual members, congregations, pastors, bishops, committees and conferences through Biblical obedience with the aid of the Holy Spirit and at the discretion of the individual members, pastors, congregations, bishops, conferences and committees. (Resolution 10)
- Put forth proposed changes to the Book of Discipline and Social Principles that permit those that disagree with one another with respect to homosexuality and LGBT persons to remain inside the United Methodist Church connection, which will require, at a minimum, deletion of Social Principle ¶161F, eliminating the ban on same-sex marriages (¶341.6) and eliminating the ban on ordination of homosexuals or LGBT persons (¶304.3). (Resolution 10)
Q: Are all the churches within our conference bound by what was approved?
A: The resolutions do not possess the same status of church law as written in the Book of Discipline. Traditionally, Annual Conference resolutions are thought of in terms of covenant. The thoughts and actions adopted in the resolutions will serve as guidelines and also as shared principles as the members, church leaders and staff of the Baltimore-Washington Conference live out their connection together. So, at the core, these resolutions do not “bind” anyone to anything. They simply reflect that the majority of Annual Conference members support the inclusion of LGBT people in the life of the church and ask that this support be considered by conference and local church leaders as they seek to make disciples for the transformation of the world.
Q: What is the impact of these resolutions on the local churches and the conference?
A: The impact of the 13 measures in the resolutions is not exactly clear. Church and conference leaders are examining them, how they fit together, and how they might apply to situations that arise in our life together. The resolutions do not call for any specific action, program, event or funding, so, on the conference level, no immediate, tangible actions are expected. Individual members and local churches will want to discern how the resolutions might, or might not, affect their mission and ministry.
Q: When do these resolutions take effect?
A: They took effect as soon as they were adopted.
Q: Do these resolutions violate or contradict what The United Methodist Church currently teaches about homosexuality and same-gender marriage in the Book of Discipline?
A: The resolutions cannot contradict the Discipline. However, they can be, and some are, aspirational in nature. They advocate for the Discipline to be changed. At the May session, a request was made of Bishop Marcus Matthews for a “ruling of law” to determine if Resolution No. 10 violated the Discipline. Bishop Matthews ruled that it did not. As a matter of course, the denomination’s Judicial Council will review his decision. It will also review another ruling of law, requested of Bishop Matthews about whether the suspension of rules to consider these resolutions in a new way was appropriate. The bishop has ruled that it was.
Q: Does the resolution ending clergy trials mean that the bishop is not going to enforce the Book of Discipline?
A: Absolutely not. Bishop Marcus Matthews, the resident Baltimore-Washington Conference, has pointed out that the Book of Discipline offers a variety of options to bishops before proceeding to trial. However, he also believes his vows as a bishop, including upholding the Discipline, are sacred ones that should not be broken.
Q: Why were all the resolutions from the progressive side? Why were there no resolutions supporting a more traditionalviewpoint?
A: These five resolutions were the only ones submitted that dealt with human sexuality. (Nine resolutions were submitted on other topics.) If others wanted to submit resolutions they were encouraged to do so. However, it is rare that people submit resolutions calling for the upholding of the status quo and current church polity.
Q: What if I or my church want to submit a resolution next year?
A: Resolutions are submitted to the Conference Secretary, the Rev. Mary Jo Sims, each January. Deadlines and guidelines for submitting the resolutions will be posted on the conference website in the fall. Questions about the resolution process can be addressed to Sims at .
Q: What about the faithful United Methodists who are disappointed by the actions taken with regard to these resolutions because they hold a different perspective?
A: United Methodists do not always agree. The makers of these resolutions called for change because they disagree with the current policies of the denomination. One of the greatest strengths of the Baltimore-Washington Conference is our diversity. We are theologically diverse, holding many different viewpoints about how to live out our faith in the church and the world. But we are united by the saving grace of Christ, the love of God and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. It’s okay to disagree. It’s how we live together amid our differences that matters.
Q: What if I agree with the resolutions and want my church to start living out some of the things they propose in a more substantial way?
A: These churches may want to explore the idea of become a Reconciling Congregation. Reconciling churches intentionally welcome all people. There are more than 500 United Methodist communities that have gone through the Reconciling process. There are 10 Reconciling Churches in Maryland and nine in Washington. You can learn more at http://www.rmnetwork.org. The Baltimore-Washington Area Reconciling United Methodists (B-WARM) caucus also has information and resources. Visit www.bwarm.org.
Q: Does the passage of these resolutions mean all our churches must become Reconciling Congregations?
A: No. The thoughts expressed in the five resolutions on human sexuality are shared by many Reconciling Congregations, but churches that want to take on the designation of Reconciling Congregation are asked to go through a process of congregational discernment. Some churches may find they are welcoming to all people but do not feel the need to adopt the reconciling label. Other churches may find themselves at odds with some of the tenants that define Reconciling Congregations. The conference does not in any way dictate whether or not a church chooses to be identified as reconciling.
Q: This talk about laws and legislative process to decide spiritual matters feels inappropriate. Why do we depend on political ways to decide church matters?
A: Founded at the same time as the United States, The United Methodist Church mirrors the U.S. government in many ways: the General Conference is like Congress; the Council of Bishops is like the executive branch; and the Judicial Council resembles the Supreme Court. Annual conferences resemble state governments. The state government has its own rules by which to operate, but they may not contradict national laws.
While this analogy explains how the church governs itself, conference leaders went out of their way at the May session to steer clear of Robert’s Rules of Order and contentious debate. Through the Circles of Grace process, they added elements of discernment, prayer, respect and holy conferencing to the discussion and voting on the resolutions on human sexuality.
Q: What was the final tally on the votes?
A: The votes were:
- Eliminating discrimination in West Virginia-- 806 in favor and 49 opposed.
- Stop clergy trials – 519 in favor and 334 opposed.
- Agree to disagree – 549 in favor and 304 opposed.
- Inclusive conference – 548 in favor and 304 opposed.
- Removing discriminatory language from the Book of Discipline – 511 in favor and 344 opposed.
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