The 2015 Iowa Annual Conference session expressed its support of the United Methodist Church’s Connectional Table proposal to the 2016 General Conference that the denomination take a more open stance on homosexuality.
Action Item 106 was a resolution that said, in part, “whereas this change ends Church trials over homosexuality, and it retains the authority of the annual conference to discern suitability for ordination, and whereas Bishops retain authority for appointments, and whereas clergy and local churches will continue to have the right of consultation appointment making process, and whereas clergy will determine whom to marry to whom.” Action Item 10s concluded, “Therefore, be it resolved the Iowa annual conference supports and affirms the recommendations from the connection will table the United Methodist Church.”
The proposed changes to the
Book of Discipline, the book of rules formulated by the General Conference that meets once-every-four-years, affects four paragraphs, thereby removing prohibitive language concerning homosexuality and making minor changes to the existing Social Principles, according to the United Methodist News Service.
Click here to read the News Service report on the Connectional Table proposal 