Local clergy to perform gay marriage

The deep split within the church was evident in several fiery speeches opposing the Traditional Plan. Senior Pastor Adam Hamilton with the United Church of the Resurrection in Leawood was among those voicing his disapproval of the decision. United Methodist clergy who oppose same-sex marriage won't be required to officiate gay wedding ceremonies if the denomination changes its stance on LGBT issues, according to a clergy panel.

Thomas Berlin of Herndon, Virginia. The Judicial Council said in Decision that “a pastor has discretion in deciding whether to perform or not to perform any marriage ceremony.”. Find a legally ordained minister who aligns with your beliefs to perform this important ceremony wherever you are located.

United Methodist clergy have full discretion in determining which couples for whom they will or will not conduct a marriage ceremony (Paragraph a.3). Pastors will have sole discretion as to whether or not same-sex marriages will take place at local churches according to an April 29 ruling by the UMC Judicial Council.

If the bans were eased, "the church in Africa would cease to exist," said the Rev. Jerry Kulah of Liberia. News Local News. The United Methodist Judicial Council ruled last month that church trustees could not prohibit a pastor from performing a same-sex wedding ceremony.

Trustees cannot restrict a pastor from conducting a same-sex marriage ceremony on church property per the restrictions on their powers in Paragraph (also, Judicial Council Decision ). The decision of this body is hurtful to gay and lesbian people and their families. Local pastor condemn's United Methodist's decision to continue ban on gay marriage.

The leadership of the United Methodist Church has clarified that a recent decision by its highest court, which permits pastors to decide whether they will officiate same-sex weddings, does not override regional bans on such unions. Many supporters of the more liberal plan stood in support as Berlin spoke.

Some wore rainbow-motif garments or sat behind rainbow banners. We may not all agree on everything, but we agree that we love and welcome all people. Emotions were high throughout the third and final day of the UMC's meeting. By: Associated Press , Melissa Greenstein.

Actions Facebook Tweet Email. He predicted many Methodist churchgoers and some regional bodies would leave the church, while others would "stay and fight," performing same-sex weddings even if it meant punishment. A congregation’s trustees cannot declare church facilities off limits if their pastor chooses to officiate a same-sex wedding, The United Methodist Church’s top court has ruled.

The Rev. An association of Methodist theological schools warned that if the Traditional Plan passes, the church "will lose an entire generation of leaders in America. Copyright Scripps Media, Inc. Are you planning a same-sex marriage? Formed in a merger in , the United Methodist Church claims about While other mainline Protestant denominations, such as the Episcopal and Presbyterian U.

Report a typo. Some supporters of greater LGBT inclusion were in tears, while others vented their anger when, midway through the session, delegates defeated a proposal that would have let regional and local church bodies decide for themselves on gay-friendly policies.

After several more hours of debate, the conservatives' proposal, called the Traditional Plan, was approved by a vote of The Traditional Plan's success was due to an alliance of conservatives from the U. About 43 percent of the delegates are from abroad, mostly from Africa, and overwhelmingly support the LGBT bans.