5:132″>«My pronouns are he/him/his. I have the privilege of serving as the pastor of Broadway United Methodist Church in downtown Orlando.
7:196″>Also, my drag name is still in development. So if you have any ideas, please let me know. There’s one circulating out there, but I’m not going to share it with you. I’m still taking suggestions.»
3:288″>The United Methodist Church (UMC) has undergone significant shifts in its stance regarding the inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals in the clergy and in marriage. Historically, the UMC had explicit prohibitions against «self-avowed practicing» homosexual clergy and same-sex marriages.
6:32″>Recent Changes in UMC Policy
8:159″>At the 2024 UMC General Conference, historical votes eliminated long-standing prohibitions on LGBTQ+ clergy and same-sex marriage. These changes mean that:
- 10:96″>LGBTQ+ individuals are no longer explicitly prohibited from serving as ordained ministers.
- The ban on clergy officiating same-sex marriages and churches celebrating them has been removed.
13:229″>These developments are the result of decades of debate and activism within the denomination, leading to a division, with some more conservative congregations choosing to separate and join the newly formed Global Methodist Church.
16:52″>Participation of Drag Queens in Methodist Clergy
18:302″>Regarding the involvement of drag queens as pastors or in ministerial roles, the situation is more complex and can vary. While recent changes open the door to greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the clergy, the appearance of drag queens in the pulpit has garnered attention and, in some cases, controversy.
- 22:187″>
- 20:274″>There are examples of Methodist pastors who are also drag queens or have participated in drag events, such as the pastor of Broadway United Methodist Church in Orlando, or Reverend Craig Duke, who was temporarily suspended for a drag queen appearance on a television show.
- 21:254″>Some explicitly inclusive Methodist churches view the participation of drag queens as a way to extend welcome and representation to a marginalized community, interpreting this as part of a liberation theology and a contextual approach to scripture.
- 22:187″>For others, especially those with more traditional interpretations, the participation of drag queens in the context of a religious service can be a cause for concern or controversy.
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