Whereas, The United Methodist Church affirms "a clear issue of simple justice in protecting [homosexual persons'] rightful claims where they have shared material resource, pensions, guardian relationships, mutual powers of attorney, and other such lawful claims typically attendant to contractual relationships which involved shared contributions, responsibilities, and liabilities, and equal protection under the law" ("Social Principles," ¶ 71G); and
Whereas, the Book of Discipline, "Social Principles," ¶ 71F acknowledges that The United Methodist Church is "committed to support those rights and liberties for homosexual persons"; and
Whereas, The United Methodist Church "has a long history of concern for social justice" (Social Principles, Preface) and recognizes that "the struggle for human rights for all people of God to be a continuous unfolding of the gospel" (1992 Book of Resolutions, "Human Rights"); and
Whereas, the denial of a covenant of same-sex unions between lesbians or gay men within Church and society continues to violate the human rights of gay men and lesbians and contradicts United Methodist teachings of the sacred worth of homosexual persons; and
Whereas, Scripture advocates a model of faithful love between life companions; and
Whereas, the absence of support for permanency in relationships has contributed to multiple deaths from AIDS in the gay men's community;
Therefore, be it resolved, that The United Methodist Church undergird long-term, faithful, loving relationships between persons of homosexual orientation through the creation of commitment ceremonies.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 22408-DI-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference