United Methodists
approve ordaining
gay clergy, marriage
AP from the
DulutyNewsTribune.com on the Web, June 1, 2006
ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- Delegates
to the annual state convention of the United Methodist Church on Thursday
resolutions favoring ordination of gay clergy and performance of same-sex
marriages.
Their votes on the two issues will constitute recommendations to the
denomination's General Convention, which meets in 2008.
"We are asking the general church to be more inclusive of gay, lesbian persons
in the church's life," said the Rev. Bruce Robbins of Hennepin Avenue United
Methodist.
Robbins said members of the Minneapolis church where he is a minister support
ordaining gay clergy, and its congregation has sought to welcome gays to the
church since 1992.
"The issue for many people comes down to 'What does the Bible say?'" Robbins
said during a break at the four-day conference at the St. Cloud Civic Center.
The vote was 496-223 in favor of the petition calling for equal access to the
Methodist church "regardless of sexual orientation."
The resolution "to remove prohibition of United Methodist clergy from
celebrating homosexual unions" passed on a 394-320 vote.
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