Use of UMC Funds
Two paragraphs In the United Methodist Book of Discipline, prohibit the use of United Methodist funds to promote the acceptance of homosexuality. One paragraph ( 806.9) relates to the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA), which manages the money on the general church level. The other paragraph relates to the tasks of the Annual Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CFA), which manages the church's money on the annual conference level ( 613.20). Both paragraphs say that boards, agencies, committees, and so on shall not give United Methodist funds to gay groups or use funds to promote the acceptance of homosexuality. The paragraph relating to Annual Conferences goes on to say that this restriction shall not prevent funding for educational events or HIV/AIDS ministries.
What impact do these policies have on LGBT people and their friends and families?
- An Annual Conference Board of Church and Society, out of concern for the suicide rate of LGBT teens in the area, plans an educational seminar for United Methodists about sexual orientation from many aspects—biblical, human development, spiritual, and sociological. Someone raises a question about whether sponsoring an event like this is "promoting homosexuality" and is therefore "against The Discipline." Planners anticipate that if they go ahead with the event, conflict may erupt among conference leaders so they table their plans and the event is never held. United Methodist youth workers, clergy, concerned parishioners, and parents of teens miss this opportunity to model openness and learn possibly life-saving information about teens and sexual orientation.
