2024 Resolutions
Resolution 2024-07: “Resolution of Confession and Welcome”
General Church Budget Implications: None
East Ohio Conference Implications: Yes
Whereas: from 1972-2024, The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church has contained language that singled out gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and other queer children of God for discrimination, and
Whereas: in the East Ohio Annual Conference and throughout The United Methodist Church, children baptized into the church were told they were second-class citizens and could not follow God’s call into ministry or their hearts call into Holy Marriage, and
Whereas: clergy in the East Ohio Annual Conference and throughout The United Methodist Church were forced to surrender their credentials, and
Whereas: laity and clergy in the East Ohio Annual Conference and throughout The United Methodist Church were forced to hide aspects of who they are so that they could serve God in the Church, and
Whereas: Matthew 5:23-24 tells us that before we may come to the altar, we must go to all those whom we may have harmed, confess, and work to bring reconciliation.
Therefore, be it resolved: that we repent of our collective sins, of the times by action or omission, we caused harm to those simply trying to live out their Christian faith and calling, and
Be it further resolved: that we welcome and rejoice that following the 2024 General Conference, no lay nor clergy person in The United Methodist Church are categorically denied to follow their conscience and God-given calling, and
Be it further resolved: that we welcome with grace and enthusiasm all those called into ministry and celebrate their gifts in whatever setting God and this church should call them.
May we further resolve to continue to work on all ways in which we discriminate in word or in deed until every child of God is welcome in the fullness of who God created them to be.
Submitted by: Rev. Jared Gadomski Littleton, reserve delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences.