Bishop pleads for harmony at Methodist conference


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A United Methodist bishop has issued a passionate plea for harmony as the denomination revisits a decades-long debate on whether to lift prohibitions on practicing gay clergy and same-sex weddings.

The church's Book of Discipline calls homosexuality "incompatible with Christian teaching." But in an open letter in advance of the church's General Conference in Portland, Oregon, 111 ministers and candidates for ordination said, "We are coming out as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and Intersex persons."

In the conference's opening address Wednesday, Bishop Gregory Palmer didn't directly mention Methodist divisions over sexuality. But he lamented that "disagreements among us have led to unbridled acrimony." And he warned that "our capacity to turn on each other is destroying this church."

Palmer led the assembly in a prayer of confession, telling God: "We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will. We have broken your law."

Sound:

%@AP Links

235-w-35-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with United Methodist Bishop Gregory Palmer)--A United Methodist bishop has issued a plea for harmony as the denomination revisits a debate on whether to lift prohibitions on practicing gay clergy and same-sex weddings. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (11 May 2016)

<<CUT *235 (05/11/16)££ 00:35

236-a-17-(United Methodist Bishop Gregory Palmer, in opening address to the United Methodist Church's general conference)-"or truly Christians"-Bishop Gregory Palmer says United Methodists have become bitterly divided. (longer version of cut used in wrap) (11 May 2016)

<<CUT *236 (05/11/16)££ 00:17 "or truly Christians"

237-a-07-(United Methodist Bishop Gregory Palmer, in opening address to the United Methodist Church's general conference)-"of this church"-Bishop Gregory Palmer says United Methodists have been treating each other as enemies. (longer version of cut used in wrap) (11 May 2016)

<<CUT *237 (05/11/16)££ 00:07 "of this church"

238-a-09-(United Methodist Bishop Gregory Palmer, in opening address to the United Methodist Church's general conference)-"broken your law"-Bishop Gregory Palmer leads the assembly in a prayer of confession to God. (11 May 2016)

<<CUT *238 (05/11/16)££ 00:09 "broken your law"

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Most recent Religion stories

Related topics

Religion
The Associated Press

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast