In 1988, the General Conference (GC) of the United Methodist Church issued a mandate for the General Council on Ministries (GCOM) to study homosexuality and report to the 1992 GC (Williams, 1994a; UMNS, 2001d), saying that, "the interpretation of homosexuality has proved to be particularly troubling to conscientious Christians of differing opinion" (UMNS, 2001d). Subsequently, the GCOM created the Committee to Study Homosexuality (hereafter referred to as the Committee), stating that such a committee could "tap the wisdom of major experts in the relevant fields of knowledge [and] bring [a] church-wide perspective to their studies" better than individual annual conferences would be able to do (Williams, 1994a, p. 5). (NOTE: Several annual conferences had conducted their own studies prior to this and have done so in the years following the completion of the Committee’s work.)

conduct a study of homosexuality as a subject for theological and ethical analysis, noting where there is consensus among biblical scholars, theologians and ethicists, and where there is not; seek the best biological, psychological, and sociological information and opinion on the nature of homosexuality, noting points at which there is a consensus among informed scientists and where there is not; and explore the implication of its study for the Social Principles." (UMNS, 2001d)

The 1988 GC also made a change in the Social Principles statement: "Although we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching, we affirm that God’s grace is available to all. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons" (UMNS, 2001d; Discipline, 1984, Para. 71.F).

 

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