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"I do believe that there [would have been] serious consequences had we taken a different action—a possibility of a hemorrhage in our church I think could have occurred," he said. "We would have immediately broken faith with our people all around the world."

Fox helped formulate the fortified version of the denomination's stance on homosexuality approved yesterday. He said it is "a clear statement and a statement of compassion."

An original motion from the Conference's Church and Society Committee recommended adding a phrase to acknowledge that there is disagreement among Christians over the compatibility of homosexual practice with Christian teaching. That motion failed.

As a result of the vote, the Book of Discipline, now states:

"The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching. We affirm that God's grace is available to all, and we will seek to live together in Christian community."

"It was a real victory for the church, because it leaves no room for confusion," said Maxie Dunham, president of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. "It is absolutely clear."

Five of the six delegates who sought to sway the General Conference to reaffirm the ban on homosexual practice were from African nations.

"The church needs to speak with … an unambiguous voice," Furaha Kaciko, a layperson from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, told the delegates. "If America will not do it, God will raise the bones to do it."

James Preston of Rockford, Illinois, sought to persuade delegates to include a statement that Christians disagree on this issue and said he was "deeply saddened by the vote" because he does not believe the approved wording accurately represents the division that exists within Methodism.

"The United Methodist Church has been very clear today that we will not speak truth," Preston said. "We are clearly saying that you, in the sense of gay and lesbian persons and their families, are not welcome in the United Methodist Church."

While 60 percent of General Conference delegates voted to uphold that homosexual practice is "incompatible" with Christian teaching, that is down 7 percent from the General Conference vote four years ago.

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Other news reports include:

Lesbian Remains a Methodist Cleric, for Now | The United Methodist Church's supreme court ruled Tuesday that it lacked the authority to reconsider the case of a lesbian pastor who was permitted to remain in ministry by a local church court in Washington State. (New York Times)

Methodists are torn by homosexuality | In another vote, church leaders say it's wrong (Detroit Free Press)

Lesbian minister remains in limbo | Methodist court issues conflicting rulings (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Methodist court won't revisit case of lesbian pastor | Top judicial body powerless to review acquittal on charge of violating church law. (Associated Press)

Split Methodists affirm stand on homosexuality | Voters reject gay clergy, overall acceptance (Toledo Blade)

Methodists affirm homosexual opposition | United Methodists stood firmly against homosexuality at a national meeting, even as their top court rejected a request from conservatives to intervene in the case of a lesbian pastor. (Associated Press)

Methodists condemn homosexuality | Delegates at a United Methodist Church conference voted yesterday to condemn homosexuality and to reject a statement saying Christians disagree on the issue. (Washington Post)

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May (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48