Judicial Council voids sexuality statement
The Judicial Council, the denomination’s highest court, in a ruling released on Nov 2, said that the Baltimore-Washington Annual (regional) Conference went too far in adopting its own statement declaring “a more authentic and truthful representation of The United Methodist Church” is that “we disagree” on gay and lesbian issues.
“The effect of the Baltimore-Washington resolution is to negate the church’s clearly stated position as reflected in current disciplinary language,” the council wrote. “Moreover, the Baltimore–Washington resolution attempts to articulate a new and different standard of church belief using language that has been specifically rejected by the General Conference.”
Meeting from Oct 27 to 31, the nine-member council considered the statement during a review of a decision of law by Bishop John Schol. Its ruling reverses his decision that the resolution of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference was in order.
The council said that while such statements can be “aspirational in nature”, an annual (regional) conference “may not negate, ignore or violate” The Book of Discipline, “even when the disagreements are based upon conscientious objections”.
Delegates to the 2008 General Conference rejected proposed changes to the United Methodist Social Principles that would have acknowledged that church members disagree on homosexuality and instead adopted a report retaining language that describes homosexual practice as “incompatible with Christian teaching.” – United Methodist News Service.