He believed that practicing homosexuals can rid themselves of homosexuality if they put their minds to it.
Among other things, it allowed practicing homosexuals to be accepted in certain circumstances "within the Christian fellowship."
I agree that practicing homosexuals are not living the chastity they will profess on the day of ordination.
Thus, the new text is explicit in condemning only "practicing homosexuals."
A 1978 policy based on the constitution prohibits the ordination of "self-affirming, practicing homosexuals."
In 1979, however, the church refused to admit practicing homosexuals into the priesthood.
But church rules ban "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals" from the ministry.
The police said four of the victims were said by friends to be practicing homosexuals.
As a result, practicing homosexuals are barred from becoming members of the Evangelical Methodist Church.
Moreover, practicing homosexuals are prohibited from becoming candidates for ordained ministry.