Activists meet to push change in Methodists' gay policy

CLEVELAND (RNS) Hundreds of United Methodists are meeting in Huron,
Ohio, this week in an uphill bid to make their 12 million-member
denomination more gay-friendly.

Activists are gearing up for next year's General Conference meeting
in Tampa, Fla., where they plan to fight once again to change the
church's official position that homosexual activity is a sin.

Unlike other mainline Protestant denominations in the United States
that have moved to allow openly gay clergy and bless same-sex unions,
United Methodists prohibit sexually active gay clergy and blessing
same-sex unions.