(Chicago, Illinois) In an open letter 75 United Methodist LGBT clergy, most of them not out until now, are calling on the denomination to abolish a ban on "practicing homosexuals" from the clergy.

While reaffirming their commitment to continue serving the denomination the 75 reminded United Methodists that “you are the church that opened our minds and hearts to God’s irrevocable call into ministry.” 

 Serving the church at every level, they “have embodied God's presence in worship and in your lives, blessing your marriages, responding to midnight calls, holding your hands, wiping your tears, and laying your precious loved ones to rest,” the letter said.

The letter was made public a week before the UMC Judicial Council meets in Kansas City. The clergy members called on the council to reverse a ruling last year that ordered the reinstatement of a Virginia pastor who had been fired after he refused to allow a gay man to join his parish. (story)

The 75 also expressed their support for Beth Stroud, a UMC pastor who was defrocked after coming out to her congregation and saying she was in a committed relationship with another woman. (story)  

“For 35 years the UMC has been on a slow but steady course to exclude LGBT people from the life of the church as a whole,” Rev. Troy Plummer , a minister based in  Chicago said quoting from the letter.  

“Many in our denomination support this dismembering of Christ’s Body. Yet even while our sister Beth Stroud was stripped of her ordination credentials, hundreds of LGBT clergy continue to serve the church faithfully at every level of leadership.”

The council's rulings have led to widespread criticism within the denomination.

Although the Judicial Council has the final word on church law, the denomination's Council of Bishops issued a unanimous declaration that homosexuality is not a barrier to church membership and that the church's rules "implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends." 

Last November the pastor of  the biggest Methodist church in Minnesota held a service to apologize to gays and lesbians for homophobia in the denomination. (story)

The Methodist denomination has been wrestling with the issue of homosexuality since 1972, when it declared homosexuality “incompatible with Christian teaching.”  

Since that time, church legislation has been passed preventing the ordination of “self-avowed, practicing homosexuals.” 

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