Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church

Goodpaster responds to retired bishops' advocacy for ending gay clergy ban

February 4, 2011

Council of Bishops calls for dialogue

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, released a statement Feb. 3 calling for “thoughtful, prayerful dialogue about sensitive and challenging issues.” His statement follows the Jan. 31 release of a document signed by 33 retired United Methodist bishops that calls for the church to remove its ban on homosexual clergy.

The Council of Bishops remains committed to living within the covenant defined by the Book of Discipline, the denomination’s law book, and it understands “that it is the General Conference that re-examines that covenant every four years and has the responsibility to define our covenant for the next four years.” He asks church members to pray and fast for the whole church with the approach of General Conference in Tampa, Fla., in 2012.

See Goodpaster's complete statement (PDF)

See UMNS story: "33 retired bishops urge end to gay clergy ban"