The bishops of the Western Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church have declared their churches a “safe harbor” for LGBTQ clergy.
The declaration was announced Wednesday as United Methodists’ Council of Bishops wrapped up its autumn meeting in Lake Junaluska, N.C.
It comes months before new restrictions strengthening the denomination’s ban on the ordination and marriage of its LGBTQ members, which are set to take effect Jan. 1.
“We are haunted by the actions of the 2019 Special General Conference, which impose new and harmful definitions and restrictions on full participation of LGBTQ+ persons in the church and abandon robust engagement of scripture to narrow biblical literalism,” the declaration stated.