Editing Christianity and homosexuality (section)

====Accepting position====
{{see also|LGBT-affirming Christian denominations|Presbyterianism and homosexuality|Homosexuality and Lutheranism|Homosexuality and Quakerism}}

Certain other [[Christian denominations]] do not view monogamous same-sex relationships as sinful or immoral, and may [[Blessing of same-sex unions in Christian churches|bless such unions and consider them marriages]]. These include the [[United Church of Canada]], the [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]], the [[United Church of Christ]],<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/05/national/05church.html NYTimes.com] "United Church of Christ Backs Same-Sex Marriage"</ref> all German Lutheran, reformed and united churches in [[Evangelical Church in Germany|EKD]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ekd.de/lebensgemeinschaft_2000.html |title=Verantwortung und Verlässlichkeit stärken (german) |publisher=Ekd.de |access-date=10 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810205018/https://www.ekd.de/lebensgemeinschaft_2000.html |url-status=live |archive-date=10 August 2019}}</ref> all [[Swiss Reformed Church|Swiss reformed churches]], the [[Mennonites in the Netherlands|Protestant Church in the Netherlands]], the [[United Protestant Church in Belgium]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://holebi.info/phpnews/kortnews.php?action=fullnews&id=4179|title=Verenigde Protestantse Kerk staat inzegening homohuwelijk toe. - holebi.info|access-date=8 June 2015|archive-date=30 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330093603/http://holebi.info/phpnews/kortnews.php?action=fullnews&id=4179|url-status=dead}}</ref> the [[United Protestant Church of France]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20150517-french-protestant-church-authoriese-gay-marriages|title=French Protestant church authorises gay marriages|date=17 May 2015|access-date=8 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724214210/http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20150517-french-protestant-church-authoriese-gay-marriages|archive-date=24 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> the [[Church of Denmark]], the [[Church of Sweden]], the [[Church of Iceland]], the [[Church of Norway]], and the [[Uniting Church in Australia]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandeman |first=John |date=13 July 2018 |title=Uniting Church to hold same sex marriages |url=https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/uniting-church-to-hold-same-sex-marriage/ |work=Eternity |location=Australia |access-date=13 July 2018 }}</ref> The [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland]] also allows prayer for same-sex couples.<ref name="ELCF">{{cite web|url=https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/homojen-kanssa-rukoilemisesta-saatiin-paatos/1853048|title=Church of Finland allows prayer for same sex couples (In Finnish)|date=12 November 2010|publisher=Mtv3.fi|access-date=12 November 2011}}</ref> The [[Metropolitan Community Church]] was founded specifically to serve the [[LGBT-affirming Christian denominations|Christian LGBTQ community]]. The [[Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals]] (GAAAP) traces its roots back to 1980, making it the oldest LGBT-affirming Apostolic Pentecostal denomination in existence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.affirmingapostolic.com |title=GAAAP |publisher=Affirmingapostolic.com |access-date=12 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903095043/http://www.affirmingapostolic.com/ |archive-date= 3 September 2011 }}</ref> Another such organization is the [[Affirming Pentecostal Church International]], currently the largest affirming Pentecostal organization, with churches in the US, UK, Central and South America, Europe and Africa.

[[LGBT-affirming Christian denominations|LGBT-affirming denominations]] regard homosexuality as a natural occurrence. The [[United Church of Christ]] celebrates [[gay marriage]],<ref name="UCC-HRC">{{cite web | title = Stances of Faiths on LGBT Issues: United Church of Christ | publisher = [[Human Rights Campaign]] | url = http://www.hrc.org/issues/5055.htm | access-date = 22 January 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131109135551/http://www.hrc.org/issues/5055.htm | archive-date = 9 November 2013 | url-status = dead}}</ref> and some parts of the [[Anglican]]<ref name="UCC-Episcopal bishops">{{Citation| last = Goodstein | first = Laurie | title = Episcopal Bishops Give Ground on Gay Marriage | newspaper = The New York Times | date = 15 July 2009 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/us/16episcopal.html?scp=18&sq=%22united%20church%20of%20christ%22&st=cse | access-date = 22 January 2010}}</ref> and [[Lutheran]]<ref name="LCMS – Homosexuality" /> churches allow for the blessing of gay unions. The [[United Church of Canada]] also allows same-sex marriage, and views [[sexual orientation]] as a gift from God. Within the [[Anglicanism|Anglican Communion]], there are openly gay clergy; for example, [[Gene Robinson]] is an openly gay Bishop in the US Episcopal Church. Within the Lutheran communion, there are openly gay clergy, too; for example, bishop [[Eva Brunne]] is an openly lesbian bishop in the [[Church of Sweden]]. Such religious groups and denominations interpret scripture and doctrine in a way that leads them to accept that homosexuality is morally acceptable, and a natural occurrence. For example, in 1988 the [[United Church of Canada]], that country's largest Protestant denomination, affirmed that "a) All persons, regardless of their sexual orientation, who profess Jesus Christ and obedience to Him, are welcome to be or become full members of the Church; {{em|and}} b) All members of the Church are eligible to be considered for the Ordered Ministry."<ref>[http://www.united-church.ca/humanrights/equal/chronology#1988 Chronology of Marriage and Equality Rights in the United Church] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425181001/http://www.united-church.ca/humanrights/equal/chronology#1988 |date=25 April 2009 }}</ref> In 2000, the Church's General Assembly further affirmed that "human sexual orientations, whether heterosexual or homosexual, are a gift from God and part of the marvelous diversity of creation."<ref>"Same-Sex Marriage Legislation Offers a Win-Win Solution, Says The United Church of Canada," 2005-FEB-01, United Church of Canada, at: http://www.united-church.ca/</ref>

In addition, some Christian denominations such as the [[Moravian Church]], believe that the [[Bible]] speaks negatively of homosexual acts but, as research on the matter continues, the Moravian Church seeks to establish a policy on homosexuality and the ordination of homosexuals.<ref name="The Moravian Interprovincial Faith & Order Commission">{{cite web|url=http://www.moravianseminary.edu/FaithOrder/STHomosexuality1st.html |title=On Homosexuality and Ordination |publisher=The Moravian Interprovincial Faith & Order Commission |access-date=22 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060722092332/http://www.moravianseminary.edu/FaithOrder/STHomosexuality1st.html |archive-date=22 July 2006 }}</ref> In 2014, Moravian Church in Europe allowed [[Blessing of same-sex unions in Christian churches|blessings of same-sex unions]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idea.de/frei-kirchen/detail/brueder-unitaet-kuenftig-sind-homo-segnungen-moeglich-28126.html|title=Brüder-Unität: Künftig sind Homo-Segnungen möglich}}</ref>

Liberal Quakers, those in membership of [[Britain Yearly Meeting]] and [[Friends General Conference]] in the US and some [[Conservative Friends|Conservative Quaker]] Yearly Meetings approve of same-sex marriage and union. Quakers were the first Christian group in the United Kingdom to advocate for equal marriage and [[Quakers in Britain]] formally recognised same-sex relationships in 1963.<ref name="Quakers in Britain">{{cite news|url = http://www.quaker.org.uk/about-quakers/our-history/marriage-equality|title =Quakers and same sex marriage|work=Quakers in Britain |location=Friends House, London|access-date=21 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="Guardian ">{{cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/31/quakers-gay-marriage| title = Quakers said same-sex couples 'miss the public recognition of their partnership in a religious ceremony'|work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date = 22 November 2009 | first=Riazat | last=Butt | date=31 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="FUM – Homosexuality" />

The [[United Methodist Church]] elected a lesbian bishop in 2016, and on 7 May 2018, the Council of Bishops proposed the One Church Plan, which would allow individual pastors and regional church bodies to decide whether to ordain LGBTQ clergy and perform same-sex weddings.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.advocate.com/religion/2018/5/05/methodist-bishops-back-choice-lgbt-clergy-same-sex-marriage| title = Advocate: Methodist Bishops Back Choice on LGBT Clergy, Same-Sex Marriage| date = 5 May 2018}}</ref> On 26 February 2019, a special session of the General Conference rejected the One Church Plan and voted to strengthen its official opposition to same-sex marriages and ordaining openly LGBTQ clergy.<ref name=Zauzmer>{{cite news|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/02/26/united-methodist-church-votes-maintain-its-opposition-same-sex-marriage-gay-clergy/|title = United Methodist Church votes to maintain its opposition to same-sex marriage, gay clergy|newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]|date = 26 February 2019|access-date = 26 February 2019|last1 = Zauzmer|first1 = Julie|last2 = Bailey|first2 = Sarah Pulliam}}</ref>
At the 2024 General Conference, 93% of delegates voted to lift existing bans on the ordination of LGBTQ+ people and the hosting of same-sex marriages. <ref>[https://www.umc.org/en/content/historic-shift-lgbtq-inclusion-united-methodist-church UMC.org: A historic shift in inclusion for the United Methodist Church], May 2024</ref>