General Conference
The General Conference of The United Methodist Church is the highest legislative body in the Church. Affirmation has been active at each General Conference since 1976, advocating for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the denomination. This included the 1984 General Conference, where “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” were explicitly denied ordination and ministerial appointments, and the historic General Conference in 2024 that removed this language from church legislation.
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An article describing the 1976 General Conference.
Invisible No Longer
About a year after its founding, Affirmation, then known as the United Methodist Gay Caucus, attended the 1976 General Conference in Portland, Oregon. Keith E. Spare, the Caucus liaison, addressed the General Conference and drew attention to the “history of silence and invisibility” in The United Methodist Church’s treatment of gay and lesbian United Methodists.
An article detailing the controversies at the 1984 General Conference.
1984
The 1984 General Conference was one of the most significant events in the history of The United Methodist Church’s relations with LGBTQIA+ Methodists. Homosexuality was one of the major discussion points, and legislation designed to limit LGBTQIA+ relationships and bar LGBTQIA+ ministers was passed. The 1984 General Conference started the 40-year ban on “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” that was overturned in 2024.
Reactions to the 1984 General Conference.
Fallout
The 1984 General Conference was a devastating blow to Affirmation and other LGBTQIA+ Methodists. Members of Affirmation expressed confusion, fear, and pain at the legislation, and responses varied from some outright leaving the denomination to others planning to fight the policies from within. Affirmation gave voice to many perspectives and challenged the denomination to consider how the legislation was affecting both the lives of committed LGBTQIA+ Methodists and local congregations.
A booklet distributed at the 1988 General Conference calling for full inclusion in The United Methodist Church.
Advocacy
Despite The United Methodist Church’s attempts to silence and exclude LGBTQIA+ Methodists, Affirmation advocated for the full inclusion of all into The United Methodist Church through programs, networks, news stories, and direct addresses at General Conference. Through these activities, Affirmation kept the voices and stories of those directly affected by General Conference legislation at the forefront.
A notice detailing the awards won by Open Hands, a daily newsletter distributed at the 1988 General Conference.
Awards
Methodists had produced daily newspapers at General Conference for decades. Affirmation continued this tradition by producing its own daily newspaper at General Conference. The 1988 edition of Open Hands won several awards for its coverage and editorials on the events at the 1988 General Conference. Far from being silenced, Affirmation’s voice was impossible to ignore.
An article summarizing the 2000 General Conference.
Demonstrations
Debates, addresses, and appeals were not the only actions members participated in at General Conferences. Non-violent demonstrations and protests captured the attention of participants and forced them to acknowledge the lives affected by The United Methodist Church’s actions and policies.
An article describing the aftermath of the 2012 General Conference.
Progress?
General Conference actions or non-actions were troubling and disorienting for LGBTQIA+ Methodists. Progress could be difficult to gauge or anticipate. Affirmation provided a network of support and a platform for organizing, engaging, responding, grieving, and rejoicing.
An article detailing the various plans considered at the 2019 called General Conference.
Perseverance
In 2019, The United Methodist Church called a Special Session of the General Conference to specifically examine the unity of the denomination in light of divisions over human sexuality. As they had for decades, Affirmation attended and advocated for full inclusion. While the plans for inclusivity did not pass, the voting demonstrated that the denomination was at a tipping point.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 General Conference was delayed until May 2024. At this General Conference, the denomination voted to remove language barring “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from ministry, opening a path toward full inclusion. Affirmation’s work of resistance during decades of exclusion helped pave the way to the historic vote.