Methodist Church and sexual orientation

Dear BTL,
With regard to your Dec. 23-29 article on the defrocking of Rev. Beth Stroud, I think it is important to add that while the United Methodist Church holds positions on sexual orientation that I disagree with, (1) many United Methodists, including a group called Reconciling United Methodists, are working for more understanding and more inclusiveness in the United Methodist Church (note also Paul Kinney's recent letter published in BTL), and (2) the United Methodist Church does have strong official positions against discrimination, though fewer people are aware of them, e.g., "Around the world, political and religious groups attempt to mandate discrimination against gay and lesbian persons through local and national legislative initiatives. We feel called as Christians to reconfirm our resistance to the strategies and intent of such groups" (Book of Resolutions, p. 160, 1996).
Jan Wright
Milan