At its annual Conference, the Methodist Church in Ireland has apologised unreservedly for failures in pastoral support and care.

The Conference of 2014 tasked the Faith and Order Committee to “undertake a fundamental review of Christian teaching on human sexuality and practice.” This report in full was brought to Conference this year.

In 2011, the Pastoral Guidelines issued by the Church strongly condemned all forms of homophobia within the Church and the wider community. It urged all our members to “carefully examine their thoughts, works and actions before God so that we may not be guilty of any form of homophobia either conscious or unconscious”. 

As we listened to the stories, particularly of those who had been hurt in the Church, we learnt that on occasion we had not upheld our pastoral guidelines. We wholeheartedly apologise for failures in pastoral care, all homophobia and to any whom we have caused hurt.

We have fallen short of the example of Jesus. All people bear the image of God and as a Church, we recommit ourselves to treating each person with the dignity they are due.

The 255th Conference of the Methodist Church in Ireland took place this year at Assembly Buildings in Belfast from Wednesday 5th – Saturday 8th June.

 ENDS

human sexuality RESOURCES

Further information and resources on Human Sexuality can be found here.