This week, the United Methodist Church commenced its General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., in which same-sex weddings and LGBTQ+ clergy were at the center stage. The church, a prominent Protestant group in the U.S., has witnessed numerous congregations departing due to these contentious topics. Presently, the United Methodist Book of Discipline, the church's regulatory text, declares, "The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching." Additionally, the book forbids United Methodist clergy from officiating same-sex weddings and prohibits the ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy. The General Conference, comprising United Methodists globally, possesses sole authority to amend rules regarding sexuality. It holds the power to retain, remove, or modify language. The United Methodist Church convened a special meeting in St. Louis in 2019 to discuss LGBTQ+ issues, but no resolutions were reached. Plans to revisit the matter in 2020 were disrupted by the pandemic. The ongoing General Conference, marks the first gathering since 2020. A middle path option, proposed for adoption at the Charlotte meeting, would grant regional conferences autonomy in decision-making. If adopted, it will codify what is already happening within the church. It means, liberal conferences like those in southern California could continue ordaining LGBTQ+ clergy and performing same-sex weddings, while conservative ones might not. Methodists hope to move past prolonged debates on these issues, focusing instead on longstanding church priorities. The conference will conclude on May 3. Stay tuned for updates. #Queer Up Religion