GC 2008 ~ Day 6 - part 2

Following lunch I found myself with Doug back in the Faith and Order Legislative Committee. This time the Petition at hand was one of extreme intensity...

Remove Exclusionary Language (80019-FO-¶304.3)

Amend ¶304.3 of The Book of Discipline, as follows:
While persons set apart by the Church for ordained ministry are subject to all the frailties of the human condition and the pressures of society, they are required to maintain the highest standards of holy living in the world. The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.

Rationale:

The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. “Sexuality is God’s good gift to all persons”¹. Any prejudice based upon who a person is (his/her very being as a child of God) is incompatible with the teachings of Jesus.

72 - Delegates eligible to vote

24 - Votes to adopt

44 - Votes to reject

***Update - this vote carried as the main  floor (all 1000 Delegates) rejected the petition 579 votes against, 335 for***

This means that the language does not change...and the exclusive nature of the paragraph remains. In this case a minority report will most likely be filed and this petition will actually go to the main floor for debate. My guess is that this Legislative Committee is fairly representative of the entire floor and the results of a floor vote will be about the same. This process was handled very well by the chair. Following debate we had a minute of silence prior to the casting of the votes. While the votes were being counted we all stood and sang together.

Today, the church I love made a clear choice to stand outside of God's Love and Grace... that's a tad sad for those of us that proclaim that God's love is not selective and is for all of creation...