A 2005 decision allowing a Virginian pastor to bar an openly gay man from entering his church's membership will be re-evaluated by the United Methodist Church's top court when it meets this October.

In 2005, the Methodist Judicial Council said that the Virginia Annual Conference was in the wrong for placing the Rev. Ed Johnson of South Hill United Methodist Church on involuntary leave for preventing a self-avowed, practicing gay man into his church's membership.

The decision sent shockwaves throughout the church, with some Methodists supporting and others in disagreement.

Notably, the group's Council of Bishops expressed opposition to the ruling declaring that sexual orientation should not be an obstacle to church membership.

"While pastors have the responsibility to discern readiness for membership, homosexuality is not a barrier," the bishops wrote in a pastoral letter.

Five years later, the Northern Illinois Annual Conference is asking the court to reconsider the ruling, with odds of an overturn seeming favorable.

Three Judicial Council members who dissented on the 2005 decision will be voting again this time, while the previous votes' supporters have moved on.

Council member Jon R. Gray wrote in his previous dissent that the Judicial Council "should resist the urge to interpret provisions that do not exist" and not attempt to do the job of General Conference.

"The majority's decision now condones the denial of the fellowship of the church to persons in need of its ministry and guidance who are homosexual," Gray said. "The decision eviscerates our statement that God's grace is available to all and reduces it to an empty platitude."

The UMC, whose Book of Discipline calls homosexuality "incompatible" with Christian teaching, does not allow gay clergy to serve in ministry or to officiate at same-sex marriage ceremonies. The use of the denomination's facilities for gay marriages and its funds for homosexual caucuses is also forbidden.

Last week, Episcopal Bishop the Rev. Gene Robinson called on a Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., to bless same-sex marriages despite the denomination's teachings.

"Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are coming into the temple and they are bringing their beloved partners and they're saying it's God that has done this," said Robinson, according to the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD).

"I believe this [anti-homosexual policy] violates our constitution," said Dean Snyder, Senior Pastor of Foundry United Methodist Church, adding that he believes it is "wrong to discriminate between couples in the church."

The UMC Judicial Council will meet in New Orleans from Oct. 27-30.