ADOPTED RESOLUTION ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Whereas the congregation of University United Methodist Church (UUMC) overwhelmingly voted in 2011 to become a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN); and

Whereas UUMC shares the RMN commitment to the justice imperative of the Gospel and the Wesleyan practice of personal and social holiness for all persons; and 

Whereas UUMC believes the United Methodist Church (UMC) message of “Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.” must mean more than merely using inclusive language in ministry; and

Whereas UUMC believes we are called to include all people in receiving and sharing both the Holy Sacraments and Holy Matrimony; and

Whereas UUMC believes that the Book of Discipline’s discriminatory policies toward LGBTQ persons, beginning at the 1972 General Conference and reaffirmed at General Conferences in the 1990s, are in irreconcilable conflict with our UMC theological belief that “all persons are individuals of sacred worth, created in the image of God.” (2016 Book of Discipline, Paragraph 161G);

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHURCH COUNCIL OF UUMC:

That we desire to open UUMC facilities to the marriage of all persons, without regard to their sexual orientation, who desire to be married in the eyes of God and the sanctity of the Church; and

That we desire to retain and support our UUMC clergy should they decide to participate in a ceremony of Holy Matrimony between two LGBTQ persons of faith contrary to the current strictures of the Book of Discipline of the UMC; and

That our support specifically includes continuing to provide then-current salaries and related benefits to our clergy for the period of any potential suspension or restriction of their authority by the UMC as a result of their participation in such a service of Holy Matrimony.   

ADOPTED THIS 28TH DAY OF MARCH 2019 BY THE UUMC CHURCH COUNCIL.