Of Sacred Worth?: A Brief History of Queer Ordination in the Methodist Church

ABSTRACT The 1972 Book of Discipline was the linchpin for discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer people within the United Methodist Church, particularly within ministerial settings, additionally providing context for this ban. At the 2024 General Conference, the discriminatory language against LGBTQ+ people within ministry was removed. This article examines the historical and sociological context behind this ban, asserting that, even amidst the defrocking and continued ban of LGBTQ+ clergy, there was still hope for LGBTQ+ clergy and candidates through vague definitions of “self-avowed practicing homosexual” from some annual conferences. Incorporating information from interviews, the changing language in the Book of Discipline, and personal correspondence, this article asserts that the future of the United Methodist Church rested in the rulings to be made at other General Conferences.