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The United Methodist Church, currently meeting in its quadrennial general conference, has experienced continuing conflict around questions of human sexuality, gender identity, and ministerial qualifications. On May 9, 2016, 111 United Methodist clergy and candidates for ministry issued "A Love Letter to Our Church from Your LGBTQI Religious Leaders," praying that the United Methodist Church "will remember that there are nameless ones around the world, hungry for a word of hope and healing. LGBTQI [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and intersex] people and their families exist in every church in every continent of this denomination. They are seeking to remain in faithful relationship with you, even when you refuse, because they know God’s tender mercies and great faithfulness."
The following day, over 500 LGBTQI Christian leaders issued a letter of solidarity, and on May 16, over 1,500 United Methodist clergy pledged their support to their LGBTQI colleagues. The number of United Methodist clergy signing that pledge is over 2,355 at the time of this writing.
Today UUA President Peter Morales issued an open letter to LGBTQI clergy and leadership in the United Methodist Church, recognizing and honoring "the bravery of the many clergy and candidates who have chosen to move out of the shadows and claim their whole selves, even knowing the potential of losing the faith community they love so dearly. We support each person’s faithful choice to claim who they are and to respond to their call to ministry with integrity and courage."
Morales encourages "all people of faith and conscience to show their solidarity by signing this letter."