OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A group of United Methodists in Oklahoma have signed a statement in support of gay marriage ahead of an April global policy conference of the church, which prohibits gay marriages.

Retired Oklahoma City minister Jim Gragg is collecting signatures and says 62 clergy and 203 members have signed the statement. The Oklahoma United Methodist Conference says there about 300,000 Methodists in the state.

Gragg says the church has historically been inclusive and that doctrines and attitudes against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people contradict the vows ministers take to minister to all people.

Tulsa pastor Suzanne Davis says she signed the statement because she believes gay people who want to make a commitment to each other in the church should be able to do that and be recognized as important.