UK Methodist Church to allow same-sex-marriage after historic vote

After debates on the topic at the Methodist Conference, the proposals to allow same-sex marriages were passed with 254 votes in favor and 46 against

As such, the Methodist church has become the largest religious denomination in the UK to allow same-sex marriages, putting it at odds with the Church of England.

The Church announced on Wednesday that same-sex couples will be allowed to get married on its premises, although, the freedom of conscience clause will allow ministers to opt out of conducting such weddings.

According to a report by the Guardian, the Rev Sonia Hicks, elected as the Methodists’ first black female president at the weekend, said it was a “historic day for our church”. She urged people “to support each other respecting our differences”. Dignity & Worth, a campaign group in the Methodist Church, said the vote was a “momentous step on the road to justice and inclusion” after many years of sometimes painful conversations. Rev. Sam McBratney, who chairs the group, praised the “courageous step” taken by the church.

The report states that the conference also voted to recognise, accept, and celebrate the love and commitment of unmarried cohabiting couples. Same-sex marriage is forbidden in the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church but permitted by Quakers in Britain, the Scottish Episcopal Church, and United Reformed Church. Jayne Ozanne, a campaigner for LGBT+ equality and a member of the C of E’s ruling body, the General Synod, said the vote reflected “the significant shift that there has been among Christian attitudes in England, and shows how so many people would echo the recent call of Bishop Paul Bayes to allow same-sex marriage in the C of E”.

After her election as president on Sunday, Hicks told the conference about her great-aunt Lize, who had arrived from Jamaica with her Methodist membership card only to be rejected from her local church because she was black according to Guardian UK. She said:

In a world where people are excluded because of their ethnic background, their sexual orientation, their gender or simply because, like me, they were brought up on a council estate, I believe that we are called to show God’s love for all people.

The church has a membership of 164,000, making it the fourth-largest denomination of Christian churches in the U.K.

However, on ‘Same-Sex-Marriage-Approval’ Methodist Church Nigeria Blasts Britain Counterpart, saying the act is ungodly and illegal and warns members against it

The Nigeria variant of the church established this in a statement by its Director, Media and Public Relations, Rev. Oladapo Daramola, in Lagos. Daramola said that the Church expressed its displeasure over the decision of the British Church in favour of same-sex marriage. According to him, the position of MCN was made known by its Prelate, His Eminence Chukwumerije Kanu-Uche, in a message he shared with members, on July 2. Kanu-Uche announced that MCN was cutting formal ties with the British Methodist Church (BMC) due to the latter’s decision to vote in favour of same sex marriage at the just-concluded conference, Vanguard reports.

“I wish to let you know that I was invited to the British Methodist Conference this year, 2021 but I was duly represented by Rt. Rev. S. R. Nortey.

“He was part of the Conference and he has given me preliminary information and report.

“I have requested him to publish and circulate the full report on the SSM to the Conference office and all of us,” he said.

He said that what the British Methodist Conference had done was predicted by John Wesley that, “a time will come when the Methodist Church will exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion and denying the power thereof unless they continue with the spiritual fervency with which they first started.”

 “She is only a sister Church

“I only pity those romancing with them because of pecuniary interest.

“Suggestion to write or visit the British Methodist Conference is an insult on Methodist church.

He, however, said the Church will wait to receive a detailed report from the accredited delegate to the Conference and take an informed decision at Aug. 2021 consultation.

According to Nigerian Tribune report, Kanu Uche has described same-sex marriage as unAfrica and even against the law of Nigeria. While condemning the act, and warning members in Nigeria against joining the fray as doing so would be going against the law “As a remedial measure let every Bishop, and Archbishop tell our members that MCN does not support gay or same-sex marriage’’ he said Methodist Church Nigeria believes in holiness of God as God is holy.

“We are as Methodist Church Nigeria condemn in totality anything gay relation, same- sex marriage, it is unAfrica and it is even against the law of Nigeria passed by the National Assembly which was duly signed into law.

“Even when our president was beckon on to reverse it, he refused so it is not practised by Africa, and we believe sound doctrine as promulgated by John Wesley.

“John Wesley believes in spiritual holiness, believes in evangelical faith so, we believe in holiness of God, God is holy, God said man and woman shall marry not man and man, it is against what the Bible say. If any member of the church in Nigeria tries or intending to practice it and he or she is caught, the person will be ex-communicated and face the wrath of the law,” the prelate said.

Speaking further, Dr Uche contended that the new law in Britain didn’t apply to Methodist Church Nigeria because it was no longer under the control of Britain Methodist Church.

Vanguard reports that The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos reports that the Nigerian House of Representatives had during the 7th assembly, during the dispensation of President Goodluck Jonathan passed a resolution against same-sex marriage, citing its un-African nature. (NAN)