No sexually-active homosexual should be considered for ordination. No person should be ineligible for ordination because of their sexual orientation. Christianity outnumbers each of the smaller organized religious groups in North America by a factor of 50 or more. Thus, the relationship between homosexuality and religion is almost entirely the relationship between homosexuality and Christianity. Mainline denominations , like the Presbyterians and Methodists are experiencing major internal conflict over the issue.
Disagreements are deep and appear irresolvable, at least in the short term.
There is a great deal of impassioned debate and little dialog. There are often geographical divisions, with north eastern groups being liberal and southern groups being conservative. A major split is often between those who view homosexuals as a group, and those who personally know a gay or lesbian as a close friend. Religiously conservative groups , like the Southern Baptists , the Assemblies of God , and other Fundamentalist and Evangelical Christian denominations, have also resolved the issue. They work towards maintaining special rights for heterosexuals, defeating hate-crimes legislation that would protect gays and lesbians, and promoting legislation to prevent homosexual marriages or civil unions.