Following the 1993 Conference there was little further said on Human Sexuality.  The 6 Resolutions decided upon continued to be the position held by Methodism about sexuality and homosexuality.  In 2003 the Conference requested that evidence be brought to the Conference of 2005 to better ‘articulate to others our commitment to justice as revealed in our calling.’

The working party for this report gathered information from around the Methodist Church about what people understood the ‘Pilgrimage of Faith’ to be.  The report contains many of the responses, especially for the first time expressions of thought about homophobia, which until this point has little mention.

It attempts to draw some conclusions from the vast range of contributions.  It highlights that there are a wide range of understandings about the ‘Pilgrimage of Faith’.  Some feel more secure about the 1993 resolutions, others insecure.  It states that there is some evidence that people’s views have changed, but not necessarily in the same way.  Highlighting that there has been ‘honest encounter [and] growth in understanding’[1]

It states that the ‘key point is that conversations should be encouraged to develop without ducking the contentious issues and without predetermined outcomes.’[2]  There is a lack of clarity and definite division over the practise of homosexuals, and whether sexual activity should be permitted.

The recommendation it makes is that the resolutions do not to be revisited, there needs to be decisions made on how the resolutions are incorporated into the wider commitments and disciplinary standards.  It requests that there needs to be clarification about legislation and discrimination because of sexual orientation.  They also request that guidance is given about what to do in the light of civil partnerships.

This is where the Methodist Church is at in early 2006, the 1993 Conference Resolutions still remain and the Methodist Church continues to engage in a ‘Pilgrimage of Faith’, whilst the working party that was set up and presented to Conference 2005 is due to present another report to Conference 2006.  The 2006 Conference will also see a decision made on what happens about same sex couples that wish to have blessings performed by the Methodist Church.  Methodist Ministers received a letter just before civil partnerships were legalised saying that prayers with same sex couples could be performed if they were requested to do them, but not on Methodist premises.  They were told that in the interim before Conference makes a decision it needs to be dealt with sensitively.