So 365 Methodist delegates voted FOR homophobia and discrimination.

That's the baseline. That's what LGBTs are up against. The won-lost record matters less than persuading (or replacing) those 365.

Reading the votes and laughing or is it crying hysterically.

Note this is an international group. I wonder what the vote would look like amongst those from North America.

And here's a counterbalancing (I hope) story,
http://www.star-telegram.com/metro_news/story/609409.html:

Five newly elected members to the United Methodist Church's Judicial Council -- the denomination's "supreme court" -- could change the dynamics of the nine-member council on such issues as homosexuals in leadership roles, denomination insiders said Monday.

The council previously had a 6-3 conservative majority. But only one of the council members elected Monday is conservative, joining the sole conservative member remaining on the council, said Mark Tooley, director of the UMAction program of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, a conservative and evangelical organization.

Here's the critical problem the UMC General Conference shares with many other Christian denominations, probably the majority of Christians worldwide as many are wont to point out:

"Delegates at the United Methodist Church's General Conference voted Wednesday to adhere to the church's position...that homosexual acts are not compatible with Christian teaching."

Ergo: Gay and lesbian people in relationships must not express love in any physical way, entirely - entirely! - unlike their heterosexual brethren. And yet....

"...delegates also approved a resolution Wednesday opposing homophobia."

Do our fellow Christians honestly believe they provide no encouragement to those who perpetrate violence of all kinds against gay and lesbian people by ostensibly opposing homophobia, yet declaring effectively - and very publicly - that homosexuality is inherently opposed to God's will? Honestly?

Not to point a finger only at our Methodist sisters and brothers, of course; they are not alone in this dangerous contradiction. Apparently most of the world's Christians believe the same thing, at least officially, as many point out these days with some apparent measure of satisfaction. And, of course, the Anglican Communion is no better at all - not in the least. Congratulations to us all.

I, too, would be curious to see a geographical breakdown of the vote. UMC polity, as noted above, includes in their convention many delegates from the Global South, producing dynamics all too familiar to Anglicans.

Those 365 votes for homophobia are particularly disturbing. I would wonder if there were parliamentary or other reasons for some non-homophobes to oppose that measure; but if not, it's a telling number, especially when compared to the majorities on the other two votes.

Have you all seen the companion piece on the UMC website? In an act of witness in front of delegates to the 2008 United Methodist General Conference, more than 200 people declared that the denomination's policies and practices against homosexuality are "sinful" and that "sexuality is a gift from God."

http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2433457&ct=5321677

This protest was pre-planned and sanctioned to be sure, but I think it indicates that the Spirit is moving.