New York United Methodist Body Says It Will Ignore Church's Rules on Gay Clergy

A regional body of the United Methodist Church announced its plans to ignore the denominational rules barring non-celibate homosexuals from ordination.

The New York Annual Conference's Board of Ordained Ministry released a statement Tuesday noting that they will no longer consider the sexual orientation or gender identity of an ordination candidate.

"Sexual orientation and gender identity are not and will not be considered in the evaluation of candidates by the Board of Ordained Ministry," reads the statement.

"As a whole, the BOOM has observed vital, effective ministry from clergy married to a spouse of the same sex. Quite simply, discriminating against married persons regardless of the gender of their spouse or against those who hope to be married is not the path we believe God is calling us to walk."

image: https://images.christianpost.com/full/52814/united-methodist.jpg

(Photo: UMNS/Paul Jeffrey)

Dozens of demonstrators demanding a more inclusive church hold vigil at the edge of the May 3 session of the 2012 United Methodist General Conference in Tampa, Florida.

The Rev. William B. Pfohl, chair of the NYAC BOOM and chief signatory of the statement, told The Christian Post that the announcement derived from a regional petition requesting an inquiry into the matter.

"We entertained this request at the May of 2015 plenary meeting, and after some discussion, tabled the items until after we had met with LGBT Clergy currently serving in the Conference," explained Pfohl.

"That meeting took place at the BOOM Plenary retreat in November 2015 held at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Connecticut."