The Methodist Church in Great Britain is to reaffirm its commitment in embracing homosexuality within the Church in its upcoming annual general meeting in the Riviera Centre, Torquay from Thursday 23rd June to Thursday 30th June.
Based on the "Pilgrimage of Faith" report first adopted at the 1993 Methodist Conference at Derby, the viewpoint of the Church on human sexuality is clearly stated with six major points.
In the wake of the crisis over homosexuality and homosexual clergy in some major denominations over recent years, the 2003 Methodist Conference has called for a review on the progress of "Pilgrimage of Faith".
The result of the review will be concluded in the 2005 report to the Methodist Conference after a lengthy consultation process with the ministers in the Church. This will take place through various ways such as placing advertisement on the Methodist Recorder and asking for comments via the Methodist Church website. Theological insights over human sexuality will also be collected from some experts.
The 2005 report shows that the Methodist Church wishes to maintain itself as an open, welcoming and inclusive body which will not turn people away because of their sexual orientation. In addition, it has even showed that it is still seeking a way forward.
Quoted by Ekklesia, a UK-based Christian think-tank, the Revd Jonathan Kerry, Coordinating Secretary for Worship and Learning, and the convenor of the working party for the 2005 report, said, "Even though the Church still encompasses many differing views on homosexuality, we are moving forward towards a greater understanding of each other’s opinions, rather than allowing our positions to become fixed."
Kerry explained the term "Pilgrimage" - it is about travelling along with other people who share the same underlying faith, but who have differing experiences and perspectives - and learning from each other.
