Inclusion
The UMC defines itself as inclusive and states in the Discipline (2000), " . . . all persons shall be eligible to attend its worship services, to participate in its programs, receive the sacraments and become members in any local church in the connection" BUT puts limits upon how local churches and individuals can or cannot be included.
The UMC supports the inclusion of the gay Metropolitan Community Church in the National Council of Churches BUT does not recognize gay-related organizations within the UMC.
The UM Judicial Council approves actions taken by annual conferences and general church agencies to declare themselves ‘Reconciling Conferences’ and ‘Reconciling Commissions’ BUT later reverses itself, saying agencies and conferences cannot call themselves ‘Reconciling.’
The denomination adopts a resolution in 1996 stating that the U.S. military should not exclude persons from service on the basis of sexual orientation, BUT the UMC excludes persons from denominational service on the basis of sexual orientation and forbids union ceremonies on the basis of sexual orientation.
The denomination creates a highly publicized, highly visible national promotional campaign with the slogan, "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" and encourages local churches to participate in this campaign BUT the stance of the denomination at large does not seem to say the same thing.
Ordination/Appointments
The denomination has a ban on ordination and appointment of gay clergy, BUT bisexual, lesbian, and gay UMs are ordained and appointed to UM churches, implying a UM "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy.
The Judicial Council rules in 1982 that nothing in church law explicitly prohibits ordination of homosexual persons (Decision 513), BUT in 1984, GC adopts new language that expressly forbids ordination of gay individuals (Discipline, Para 304.3).
The denomination defines ‘self-avowed practicing homosexual’ as a person "who openly acknowledges to a bishop, district superintendent, district committee of ordained ministry, board of ordained ministry, or clergy session that he/she is a practicing homosexual," (Discipline, 2000, p. 185, footnote 1) and says that the aforementioned UM persons and/or bodies must prevent such appointments and/or remove such persons from appointments, BUT whether or not this is done depends on the specific bishop, district superintendent, committee, board, or annual conference.
The denomination makes a statement in 1982, with regard to ordination of gay clergy, stating that the UMC "has moved away from prohibitions of specific acts, for such prohibitions can be endless" (Discipline, 2000, p. 190) BUT it continues to make prohibitions.
The denomination (through a 2001 Judicial Council Decision) says a ‘practicing homosexual’ who is involved in genital sexual activity with one of the same sex cannot be appointed to a church, BUT it does not ask heterosexual clergy about their genital sexual activity.Annual conferences are not appointing transgendered clergy to local churches BUT in some instances have paid for them to have corrective surgery and have provided emotional support for them in the process prior to denying them appointments.
Financial
The denomination specifies that the use of church resources and funds is limited to support those programs "consistent with the Social Principles of the Church" BUT forbids giving funds to ‘gay’ organizations whose programs provide support for bisexual, lesbian, and gay UMs struggling with orientation issues and/or lack of acceptance within their local churches.
The denomination does not allow funds to be used to support bisexual, lesbian, and gay ministries, BUT it allows funds to be used for "the church’s ministry in response to the HIV epidemic," for annual conferences to study homophobia, and for the General Conference to create and fund a study of homosexuality conducted by heterosexuals (Discipline, Para. 806.9).God’s love
The denomination teaches that God’s love is unconditional, BUT acts in a way that says UM love is conditional.
Equal Treatment
The denomination (through a 2001 Judicial Council Decision) says a ‘practicing homosexual’ who is involved in genital sexual activity with one of the same sex cannot be appointed to a church, BUT it does not ask heterosexual clergy about their genital sexual activity.
The denomination says it does not condone or approve of homosexuality BUT implores churches and families to not reject their gay members (Social Principles, Para. 161G).
The UMC implores churches and families to not reject their gay members BUT the denomination rejects their full participation in the life of the church.
Sexuality and sexuality education
In the early 1960s and 1970s, the denomination supports a study of the needs of homosexual persons; it helps financially support a sexuality education program at the University of Minnesota Medical School; it uses sexuality materials and methods developed by the National Sex Forum by a UM clergy person to train staff, clergy, laity, and others in order to provide accurate information, BUT it does not openly discuss sexuality education issues or make sexuality education materials available after the 1980s.
The denomination says that sexuality is a "good gift of God" (Social Principles, Para. 161G), BUT it also implies that the "good gift" is only for some people.Common mind/unity
General Conference delegates defeat a motion in 1992, again in 2000, and again in 2004 to adopt a statement that says there is a "lack of a common mind" in the church with regard to homosexuality, BUT it is a fact that there is a "lack of a common mind."
In the midst of discussions of irreconcilable differences and dissolving the UMC, General Conference delegates pass a unity statement declaring that UMs will remain in covenant with one another, BUT discussion of separation from the denomination continues despite the unity statement.Human, civil , and church rights
The denomination enacts legislation in support of and advocating for protecting human and civil rights for all persons, including homosexual persons (Social Principles, Para. 161H), BUT denies them ‘church’ rights.
The UMC says it is "moving toward accepting all people for who they are" and that it "needs to be an advocate for equal civil rights for all marginalized groups, including homosexuals" (Book of Resolutions, 2000, p. 160), BUT it does not accept gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender UMs for who they are and does not advocate equal UM rights for them.Legal
The denomination uses different criteria to determine who does and does not violate church law, as illustrated in the cases of Jimmy Creech, whose ordination was revoked for performing holy unions; Greg Dell, who was given a suspension and then allowed to return to his local church appointment; and the Sacramento 68, 68 UM clergy who conducted a highly-publicized holy union and were not brought to trial.
Relationships/Union Ceremonies
The denomination changes its stance on homoseuxal unions from "We do not recommend marriage between two persons of the same sex" to "We do not recognize a relationship between two persons of the same sex as constituting marriage" to no mention of same sex unions but a statement that says "We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant, which is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman" to "homosexual unions shall not be conducted by United Methodist clergy or in United Methodist churches."Homosexuality
In the Social Principles, the UMC states that "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, BUT says it does not condone or approve of homosexuality.
The denomination says it does not condone or approve of homosexuality BUT implores churches and families to not reject their gay members (Social Principles, Para. 161G).
At the 2004 General Conference, delegates again defeat a proposed Social Principles statement acknowledging that church members hold differing opinions on homosexuality, BUT they approve a "unity statement" that says, "As United Methodists we remain in covenant with one another, even in the midst of disagreement, and affirm our commitment to work together for our common mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ throughout the world."
At General Conference 2004, delegates revise the incompatibility statement to say, "The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching," BUT also add a clause saying that United Methodists "will seek to live together in Christian community."
At the 2004 General Conference, delegates reject an original motion from the Church and Society Committee that stated, "We recognize that Christians disagree on the compatibility of homosexual practice with Christian teaching," BUT instead approve a minority report that did not include that phrase.
The denomination commits itself to "witness against the coercion and marginalization of former homosexuals" (Social Principles, Para. 162H) BUT in its policies and actions encourages the coercion and marginalization of current homosexuals.
The 1992 General Conference votes against approving the report of the Committee to Study Homosexuality (which study and report the previous GC had mandated) BUT only ‘receives’ it, going to great effort to clearly say that they heard the report and were not accepting or acting on it other than to make it available if churches wanted to use it.
Given these conflicting statements, actions, and behaviors, what diagnosis is appropriate for the UMC: schizophrenia, schizoid personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder, or borderline personality disorder?
UM Behaviors