Petition Text: 22652-CS-NonDis-O

Christian marriage is by definition an enduring covenant between one male and one female, since it is grounded in the potential gift of sexual generativity, bonded with a solemn promise of enduring mutual commitment in the service of holy matrimony, and offered up in the presence of God and the community of faith so as to provide a nurturing environment for parenting children, the most precious gift that can come from sexuality.

Classic Christian teaching views it as an oxymoron that persons of the same sex might be feigned in God's presence as being married in valid holy matrimony, though they may indeed have enduring friendships and may, as all of us sinners may, receive the forgiving grace of baptism and eucharist. Such liaisons, even if loving and continuing, shall not receive the Church's blessing as though they are on the same standing or level of legitimization as enduring fidelity in monogamous marital covenant.

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Petition Text: 22652-CS-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference