NEWS STORY: Methodists Weigh Strength of Gay Clergy Ban

c. 2004 Religion News Service PITTSBURGH _ The United Methodist Church’s highest court will decide this week whether the recent acquittal of an openly lesbian pastor was improper because it ignored a church ban on “self-avowed practicing” gay clergy. On Saturday (May 1), the church’s Judicial Council ruled 6-3 that “the practice of homosexuality is […]

c. 2004 Religion News Service

PITTSBURGH _ The United Methodist Church’s highest court will decide this week whether the recent acquittal of an openly lesbian pastor was improper because it ignored a church ban on “self-avowed practicing” gay clergy.

On Saturday (May 1), the church’s Judicial Council ruled 6-3 that “the practice of homosexuality is a chargeable offense.” In addition, the court said a 20-year-old ban on gay clergy in the church’s Book of Discipline is “unambiguous” and “explicit.”


That decision constrasted with a controversial verdict issued March 20 that cleared the Rev. Karen Dammann of Ellensburg, Wash., of charges that she violated church rules against noncelibate gay clergy. That verdict, by 13 pastors who said the ban was not “declarative,” outraged conservatives, who have turned to the court for help in forcing compliance with the prohibition.

Delegates are now awaiting an answer from the court about how its recent decision might impact the Dammann verdict, and whether bishops can appoint openly gay clergy as pastors.

Since there is little precedent in this area, and because the church normally has no right of appeal, the court’s options are unclear. Church observers say the court could vacate the verdict, or order a retrial, or say it can do nothing.

What is certain is that the court’s anticipated ruling is likely to have an impact on votes later this week on the most divisive issue facing the 10 million-member church _ homosexuality.

Nearly 1,000 delegates from nation’s second largest Protestant church are gathered here through Friday for the General Conference legislative meeting. After the first ruling, conservatives are optimistic.

“The Judicial Council should not have surprised or startled anyone,” said a statement by the evangelical group Good News. “It simply reiterated a straightforward and commonly understood reading of the Book of Discipline.”

The Rev. Troy Plummer, director of the gay-friendly Reconciling Ministries Network, accused conservatives of trying to “circumvent the constitution” by forcing the court to overturn a verdict in which it has no jurisdiction.


“This is a mistake,” he said. “It’s a bad precedent to try and take away due process and to just not follow the constitution of our church.”

Later this week, delegates will consider a resolution that retains language that calls gay sex “incompatible with Christian teaching,” but adds a line that says, “We recognize that Christians disagree on the compatibility of homosexual practice with Christian teaching.”

Attempts to change church policy on homosexuality when the church last gathered four years ago in Cleveland failed by 2-1 margins. Conservatives seem to hold the upper hand again at this year’s convention.

On Saturday, delegates waded into the debate on gay marriage, saying they support “laws in civil society that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.”

That language, approved 624-184, does not hold the weight of church law, but instead is included in the church’s Social Principles, a collection of teaching documents and resolutions.

Plummer said the measure, part of a larger package of legislation, went unnoticed by most delegates who were “confused.” He said he would push for a reconsideration.


Other church teaching on homosexuality, including a prohibition on same-sex unions and a restriction on funding for anything that promotes “the acceptance of homosexuality” appear unlikely to change.

Protesters from the ecumenical gay rights group Soulforce are scheduled to demonstrate _ including acts of civil disobedience _ on Thursday. At the 2000 convention in Cleveland, almost 200 people were arrested in Soulforce-sponsored protests, including two bishops.

DEA END ECKSTROM

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