Petition Text: 22453-CS-NonDis-O

It seems to me that if God were so powerfully opposed to acts of homosexuality and viewed homosexuals with such contempt as some people seem to think, God would have put that in the list of commandments forbidding such conduct. Evidently God did not think that acts of homosexuality were worthy of a commandment, just activities like committing adultery, killing, stealing, coveting the neighbor's wife, or working on the Sabbath. These were apparently very terrible sins in the sight of God. Yet I feel sure that The United Methodist Church and many other churches have members who have violated one or more of these commandments. These people, as far as I can discern, are not excluded from the Church; yet homosexuals are branded as sinners and are not allowed to preach or participate in certain Church rites.

Regarding The United Methodist Church and other churches, I think that the most they can legitimately say is, "We don't want homosexuals in our Church." This is somewhat the way it was previously with Blacks. Such a statement, in addition to being honest, is more in accord with what the average church member thinks and is straightforward with no room for argument.

Therefore, I suggest that the 1996 General Conference of The United Methodist Church simply state: "We don't want homosexuals in our Church." If the Church cannot make that simple statement, then I suggest that the Church leave the judging and condemning to God, whether homosexuals are sinners or not. I suggest further that the Church grant homosexuals the full privilege of membership in the Church, as it does for people who commit adultery, worship money, worship corporations, worship the Bible, worship the nation, or covet the neighbor's wife.

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Petition Text: 22453-CS-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference