Anti-Gay Initiatives Attacked By Church

Two anti-gay initiatives have been rejected by the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church.

About 900 clergy and lay representatives from Washington and North Idaho voted Saturday at the University of Puget Sound to oppose Initiative 166, which would bar schools from portraying homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle, and Initiative 167, which would bar gays and lesbians from adopting children or becoming foster parents.

“It’s a civil rights issue,” said Tricia Schug, conference communications director.

“The United Methodist Church tries to be proactive in social justice issues.”

Conference members also voted to ask the church’s national board to change the Book of Discipline, a set of guiding principles which describe the practice of homosexuality as incompatible with Christian teaching.