General Conference has just approved a constitutional amendment: ALL are welcome to the Church and, after taking vows of membership, eligible to become members. No more list of who is or is not included (ie, race, gender, social status, etc.). ALL!!!
We also amended our definition of family, affirming our hope that all families be composed of two loving parents. Nothing about gender is mentioned either way.
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So, what was it before? (I'm @ home right now and Discipline-less).
The list of categories we wouldn't discriminate against (race, gender, ethnicity, etc.). It would now be unconstitutional (or so we assume) for a pastor to not allow a homosexual to become a member of the Church because he/she is homosexual. We've yet to hear a Judicial Council ruling on exactly what this means, but it's a step.
Definition of family was one mother, one father.
I really think that was true before too. A pastor did deny the possibility of membership to a person in a gay relationship. But, that pastor would have said (did say) that it wasn't because the person was same-gender attracted per se.
I'm thinking the policy remains essentially unchanged. And, I'm thinking this (the removal of the categories) could be interpreted as a slightly more conservative move, actually, because these categories are not specifically "protected" so to speak. Not sure.
We also adopted langauge that says the pastor has the sole discretion about whether a person is taking his or her membership vows with a sincere heart. That is not the exact langauge, but that is the gist.
Like Craig, I'm not sure if these changes amount to anything in reality.
Well, many GLBTQ supporters felt very encouraged. We'll see what happens.
Dr. Mel White has just released the following statement. I tend to agree with him.
Richard
"How can we continue to support a local congregation where the pastor insists that our relationships are impure or unholy and thus refuses to marry us or insists that we are not really called by God to serve the church and thus refuses to ordain us? How can we even think of staying in a congregation that denies membership to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender persons? And as you leave, take down that sign or banner that reads "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors."
Dr. Mel White
I understand your hurt and that this will likely cause some to leave the Church. Know that there are others who are determined to stay and work on making it change.
Here's the link to the whole letter:
http://www.soulforce.org/article/1356
I understand the first part of the quoted paragraph. But, I don't understand the part that says: "How can we even think of staying in a congregation that denies membership to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender persons?" What's with that? It's okay (with me) for Mel to say that conservative Christians contribute to misinformation about gays & lesbians — there's (sad to say) some truth to that. But, then he launches into misinformation himself. Being "lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender" is not, in and of itself, an impediment to membership.
It is now, technically speaking. If you are a self-avowed, practicing homosexual, the pastor has the right to claim that he/she doesn't believe you to be sincere in your vows of "renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness," since we passed language condemning homosexuality.
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