Inclusive

Council of President Tracy S. Malone (center), who also leads the Indiana Conference, addresses her fellow bishops and those watching on livestream on May 2, final day of the Council of Bishops 2025 spring meeting in Chicago. The bishops released a statement late that day trying to ease concerns about a Judicial Council ruling on same-sex weddings. Sitting beside Malone, from left, are Horizon Texas Conference Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., president-designate, and Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, secretary. Holston leads the Alabama-West Florida and North Alabama conferences. Photo by Rick Wolcott, Council of Bishops.

Bishops respond to same-sex wedding ruling

United Methodist bishops seek to ease concerns after the denomination’s top court ruled that trustees cannot bar a pastor from officiating at same-sex weddings within church walls.

Human Sexuality

Reinstated clergy members the Revs. Beth Stroud (left), Deen Thompson and Susan Morgan serve communion at a May 1 celebration of full inclusion for LGBTQ persons in The United Methodist Church. The event was at Dallas’ Greenland Hills United Methodist Church. Photo by Sam Hodges, UM News.

‘World shifted’ with full inclusion

Dallas church hosts first anniversary celebration of United Methodist Church lifting restrictions for LGBTQ participation.

Human Sexuality

United Methodist clergy and lay members pray outside the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., on Oct. 13 for the General Conference that will take place in its halls in about six months. The United Methodist Queer Clergy Caucus organized the prayer session for the denomination’s top lawmaking assembly during the Reconciling Ministries Network Convocation in Charlotte. The Rev. Austin Adkinson, pastor of Light of the Hill United Methodist Church in Puyallup, Wash., leads the prayer. Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News.

LGBTQ advocates plan for new day in church

Reconciling Ministries Network’s 2023 Convocation looked back at the group’s 40 years of advocacy for LGBTQ United Methodists. The gathering also included time for strategizing for next year’s General Conference.

Social Concerns

Names on banners honor those who died in an arson fire on June 24, 1973, at the Up Stairs Lounge, a gay bar in New Orleans' French Quarter. Photo courtesy of the Louisiana Conference.

Church marks 50th anniversary of tragic fire

June 24 marked 50 years since an arson fire at the Up Stairs Lounge, a gay bar in New Orleans, killed 32 people and inured 15 more. Churches across the city refused to assist with proper funerals, however, St. Mark's United Methodist Church held an open service for those affected.

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