ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After a vote earlier on Wednesday, LGBTQ+ clergy will no longer be banned within the United Methodist Church.
“Sexual orientation is no longer a qualification for ministry in the United Methodist Church, and that’s a good thing,” said Rev. Andy Oliver of Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Pete.
Oliver said LGBTQ+ clergy in the United Methodist Church can finally love openly while serving their faith. Prior to the rule change, Rev. Tracy Hunter faced scrutiny for her sexuality when she married her wife.
“I got to a place where the love was greater than the fear, and I was tired of having to decide between my love for the church and my love for my partner,” Hunter said.
Now, clergy in the church won’t have to make that choice.
Delegates from around the world are in North Carolina this week for the church’s General Conference, where they voted to change longstanding rules that prohibited same-sex clergy.
“Since 1972, it’s been in our rule book that the practice of homosexuality has been incompatible with Christian teaching,” Oliver said.
Oliver and Hunter say more than 93% of those voting on Wednesday supported changing the language in the rules.
That overwhelming majority comes after thousands of congregations in the U.S. who were against the changes disaffiliated from the church.
“We can be welcomed instead of hidden and celebrated instead of criticized or shunned,” Hunter said.
Pastor Oliver said a new era is on the horizon for the United Methodist Church with the new rules.
“This way of doing church, where love is at the center, is really what it’s all about,” Oliver said.
Oliver says the new rule changes will also allow pastors to officiate same-sex weddings. He said, at Allendale United Methodist, he was already officiating those ceremonies, but now he won’t face reprimand for doing so.