To find a way forward on the denomination\u2019s homosexuality debate, bishops are recommending the church allow more freedom at the conference and local church levels.<\/p>\n
Under what the Council of Bishops calls the One Church Plan, decisions about whether to ordain LGBTQ clergy or to officiate at same-gender unions would be made closer to the congregational level.<\/p>\n
The plan would remove the restrictive language against the practice of homosexuality in the Book Discipline, the denomination\u2019s policy book. The plan also adds assurances to pastors and conferences who in good conscience cannot perform same-sex weddings or ordain \u201cself-avowed practicing\u201d gay clergy that they don\u2019t have to do so. Central conferences \u2014 church regions in Africa, Asia and Europe \u2014 could maintain current restrictions.<\/p>\n
The plan \u201cencourages a generous unity by giving United Methodists the ability to address different missional contexts in ways that reflect their theological convictions,\u201d said\u00a0the bishops\u2019 press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n While the majority of bishops recommend the One Church Plan, the bishops also will submit two additional plans to the special General Conference on Feb. 23-26, 2019, in St. Louis. All three possibilities had support among some of the bishops.<\/p>\n The other two plans on the table are:<\/p>\n\n