As I wrote last year, the UMC Council of Bishops recommended the One Church Plan, which allows conferences, churches, and pastors the flexibility to allow for LGBTQ ordination and for Methodist pastors to officiate at same-sex weddings (or not).
The other major proposal is the Traditional Plan, which represents the denomination's evangelical and traditionalist wing. The Traditional Plan basically eliminates any thought that the UMC is a potentially affirming denomination for LGBTQ people. Here is why:
- It maintains the Book of Discipline, with heavy emphasis on the idea of discipline when it comes to homosexuality. Same-sex weddings will be forbidden. Ordination of openly gay clergy will be forbidden.
- It will be required that every annual conference needs to vote on whether or not it plans to uphold and enforce the prohibition against same-sex marriages and LGBTQ ordination. Annual conferences who don't affirm this prohibition will be encouraged to graciously exit the United Methodist Church and form their own affirming Methodist church.
- Any annual conference that does not agree to enforce the Book of Discipline will, as of 01/01/21, no longer be allowed to use the UMC's name or logo, nor would it be allowed to receive or give funds through the general church.
- All UMC bishops will need to submit statements indicating that they will uphold prohibitions against same-sex marriages and LGBTQ ordination. Bishops who don't will be subjected to discipline by the Council of Bishops.
- Anyone who serve as members of the conference board of ordained ministry will need to agree to uphold and enforce the Book of Discipline related to candidacy and ordination of LGBTQ people. Openly gay people will be doubly barred from the UMC and will not be allowed to be ordained.
- Clergy who are found guilty by a trial court of officiating at a same-sex wedding will experience a mandatory minimum punishment: at least one year's suspension without pay for a first offense, and removal of clergy credentials for a second offense. Bishops won't be allowed the wiggle-room to dismiss complaints against LGBTQ pastors or pastors who've officiated at same-sex weddings.
Nutshell: Heightened punishment against clergy for officiating at gay weddings. Chase away queer clergy. Encourage "gracious exits" for those who don't fall in line. Nice, eh?
Earlier today, the UMC General Conference rejected the One Church Plan was voted down by a vote of 386 to 436.
A newer plan, called the Simple Plan, would essentially allow for same-sex weddings and LGBTQ ordination by amending the Book of Discipline. It failed by a vote of 39% to 60%.
But the Traditional Plan passed by a vote of 461 to 359.
The General Conference meeting wraps up tomorrow. The conference delegates will make their final decision. Or they won't and the status quo will remain, which essentially bans LGBTQ clergy ordination and same-sex weddings, but with the current loop-holes. Meanwhile, they will discuss how churches and clergy can leave the denomination with their pensions and property intact.