Delegates at the UMC’s 2024 General Conference (April 23-May 3 in Charlotte, N.C.) voted overwhelmingly to remove harmful language from the denomination’s Book of Discipline regarding LGBTQ+ people as well as the bans on ministry and marriage. Dumbarton UMC member, Martha Hahn, attended the General Conference and shared the following reflections on witnessing this historic moment.
I felt joy that the church is officially in line with my own opinions and my own ideas of faith. I was deeply moved by the many personal histories of struggles (someone recounted being rejected six times for ordination) and emotional stories of acceptance from some congregations (esp. Dumbarton).
We owe so much to the Love Your Neighbor Coalition (LYNC) and the Reconciling Ministries Network for their persistence, organization, and focus to get the harmful language and the rules changed. (I admit to being surprised at just how many places where hate was dwelling in our church.)