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Methodist Vote Revives Pastor Faith Quest

Pastor Tracey Beadle and her 98-year-old congregant celebrate the United Methodist Church's pro-LGBTQ votes. Beadle, an Austin pastor, is a staunch supporter of LGBTQ inclusion and sees the Church's decision as a move toward equality.

Published June 16, 2024 at 7:01am by Michael Barnes

Methodist Minister Champions LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the Church

The Rev. Tracey Beadle, a United Methodist pastor in Austin, celebrates a historic vote by the Methodist General Conference to remove discriminatory bans on same-sex weddings and clergy.

"The harmful sexuality clause was removed from the United Methodist Book of Discipline by a 93% vote today! Hallelujah!" - Rev. Tracey Beadle

[Official Report: https://www.umnews.org/en/news/may-3-wrap-up-historic-conference-comes-to-a-close]

A Personal Victory

For Beadle, the vote is a validation of her years-long journey toward a more inclusive faith. Growing up with unchurched parents, she struggled with traditional religious views on women's roles and hell. As an adult, she found a spiritual home in the United Methodist Church, where she could pursue her calling as a minister and mother.

A Church United

Beadle's church, Westlake United Methodist, has a blended service and a friendly, welcoming congregation. It is part of a larger history of Methodist unions, including the joining of Black and white congregations in 1968.

A Voice for Peace

In a time of cultural conflict, Beadle urges her congregation to be peacekeepers. She encourages honest engagement and respectful conversation on difficult topics, believing that the church must remain a relevant space for collective discernment.

Timeline of Events:

Late April 2023: General Conference wraps up in Charlotte, NC, with votes on LGBTQ+ inclusion.
May 1, 2023: Beadle shares the news of the vote with her congregant, Louise Morse, who came out in 2019.
May 5, 2023: Beadle celebrates historic votes with her congregation.

Source: Austin American-Statesman