Marriage and Relationships 2018
The 2018 Conference directed the Marriage and Relationships Task Group to bring a report to the Conference in 2019 setting out a number of theological arguments and recommendations concerning the most pressing issues in the Church’s understanding of relationships and marriage.
The Conference also adopted a Notice of Motion which directed the Task Group to ensure that the recommendations to be brought to the Conference include options for “a way forward that is consistent with the existing commitment to live with contradictory convictions” and enable, amongst other things, “those who feel called by God to solemnise same sex marriages to do so” and “protection for ministers, probationers, members and churches prevented by conscience from participation in such services”.
There were several comments in the debates at the Conference that, despite numerous opportunities over many years for consultation about the Church’s understanding of relationships and marriage, many individuals and local churches had not engaged much in discussion of the pressing issues.
The Task Group is keen to encourage such conversations in every part of the life of the Church in this current connexional year, leading up to the Task Group’s presentation of its report to the Conference in 2019.
Below are some helpful links and downloads for you to consider when having these conversations.
https://www.methodist.org.uk/mandr/
Conference Notice of Motion 112 - Marriage and Relationships