The Methodist Church in Ireland has issued an apology to the LGBT community and their families, acknowledging that they have failed to provide adequate pastoral care and support. The church has also spoken out against all forms of homophobia, inside and outside of the church. However, despite this apology, the church has maintained that marriage should only be between a man and a woman and has decided against allowing same-sex marriages, in contrast to the Methodist Church in Great Britain.
The United Methodist Church in the US recently voted to lift a 40-year ban on LGBT clergy serving in the church, although it remains to be seen whether individual Methodist churches in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland will follow this lead and allow same-sex couples to take on leadership roles. The Methodist Church in Ireland consists of around 200 churches in both countries.
Steven Smyrl, a member of the church council of the Methodist Church in Sandymount in Dublin, welcomed the apology but expressed concerns about whether same-sex relationships would be seen as having worth or dignity. He hoped that the MCI’s position on same-sex marriage would change, as there were many LGBT people in the Methodist Church who felt unable to be open about their lives.
The issue of sexuality was widely debated at the MCI’s conference in Belfast, where a decade-long review of human sexuality was presented as a report. The report recommended standards for membership and leadership of the MCI and explored the disciplines required in regards to sexual behavior for leaders in the church. It also recommended that individual churches and their councils could decide if people in same-sex relationships could serve in leadership roles, but an amendment passed by members left it unclear if those in same-sex relationships could be in leadership roles within the church.
During the debate at the MCI’s conference, speakers voiced their opposition to the recommendations on sexuality, while others expressed their support for the report. Despite concerns about potential division within the church, members voted in favor of the report on human sexuality by 148 votes to 64
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