Position papers reflect the constitutional beliefs of The Wesleyan Church. The Wesleyan Church has a historical practice of periodically commissioning committees and task forces to research current moral and social concerns, and articulate the Church’s response to them. The General Board of The Wesleyan Church is authorized to approve official position statements in the form of position papers for publication on behalf on The Wesleyan Church.
The General Board of The Wesleyan Church voted on November 17, 2021, to appoint a team of Wesleyan scholars and ministry practitioners to rewrite position paper, “A Wesleyan View of Homosexuality,” originally adopted in May 2011.
Motivation for the rewrite is to bring greater clarity representative of the beliefs and prayerful work of The Wesleyan Church, which would be welcomed by local church, district and university leaders.
Rewriting the position paper does not alter the constitutional beliefs of The Wesleyan Church related to human sexuality as documented in The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church Articles of Religion paragraph 222:
We believe that every person is created in the image of God, that human sexuality reflects that image in terms of intimate love, communication, fellowship, subordination of the self to the larger whole, and fulfillment. God’s Word makes use of the marriage relationship as the supreme metaphor for His relationship with His covenant people and for revealing the truth that this relationship is of one God with one people. Therefore God’s plan for human sexuality is that it is to be expressed only in a monogamous lifelong relationship between one man and one woman within the framework of marriage. This is the only relationship which is divinely designed for the birth and rearing of children and is a covenant union made in the sight of God, taking priority over every other human relationship. We adhere to the teachings of Scripture regarding gender identity, sexual conduct, and the sacredness of marriage, and believe that sexual relationships outside of marriage and sexual relationships between persons of the same sex are immoral and sinful.
Gen. 1:27–28; 2:18, 20, 23–24; Isa. 54:4–8; 62:5b; Jer. 3:14; Ezek. 16; Hosea 2; Mal. 2:14; Matt. 19:4–6; Mark 10:9; John 2:1–2, 11; 1 Cor. 9:5; Eph. 5:23–32; 1 Tim. 5:14; Heb. 13:4; Rev. 19:7–8.
The rewritten position paper, when finalized, will be presented for approval to the General Board. After receiving General Board approval, the rewritten position paper will be posted.
