Methodist Tighten Stance on Homosexuals

Washington Times | May 5, 2004 | Julia Duin, Judith Person

[Esther Ruth]

Methodists tighten stance on homosexuals

By Julia Duin and Judith Person THE WASHINGTON TIMES

United Methodists' official stance against homosexuality was bolstered by two separate decisions at their quadrennial meeting in Pittsburgh. In one vote, church liberals failed yesterday by a 527-423 vote among the delegates to pass a measure that would have acknowledged differing opinions among church members on homosexuality.

In the other, the church's Judicial Council ruled on a 6-3 vote that a "self-avowed practicing homosexual" henceforth cannot be employed within the church nor be appointed to any position by a bishop. Both votes pleased church conservatives, while giving some ground to pro-homosexual Methodists on the issue. "I don't know if we moved forward, but we've averted disaster," said Mark Tooley, a conservative activist who directs the Methodist group UMAction for the Institute on Religion and Democracy. Despite the delegates' refusal to endorse the "differing stances" approach to homosexuality, a majority of the 1,000 delegates voted to endorse church unity and avoid schism, by adding to the Methodist Social Principles the phrase "we seek to live together in Christian community," referring to all Methodists regardless of sexual practice. Church conservatives argued that adding any language about their internal rift would send mixed signals about the church's stand against homosexual relationships. Meanwhile, the decision Saturday by the Judicial Council, which was released to delegates yesterday, left in limbo the case of the Rev. Karen Damman, a lesbian on staff in the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church, who is awaiting a new job assignment. Miss Damman, who lives with a partner and has a 5-year-old son, was acquitted in March of breaking church law in an ecclesiastical trial in Bothell, Wash. Many of the nation's 8.3 million Methodists were amazed by the jury's decision, as the denomination has consistently declared homosexual acts sinful. In its weekend decision, the council ruled that homosexuality is incompatible with church teachings and that homosexual acts by its clergy are a "chargeable offense." However, the council also ruled yesterday that it has no authority to overturn the decision made by the Washington church jury and that its declaration would only apply to appointments made in the future. Since Miss Damman has no current post, conservatives said the "no jurisdiction" ruling has no effect and hailed the Saturday decision as a victory, while a lawyer for Miss Damman told the Associated Press that she remains employable. "I think she will not be appointable," said Scott Field, legislative coordinator for a coalition of Methodist evangelicals. "It's not a bell-ringer, but it was a good decision." But lawyer Lindsay Thompson said the council "bought our argument, which is you can't do anything retroactive in a trial that is already decided." "This is a victory. I'm very pleased with it," he said. Mr. Tooley said conservatives didn't get all they wanted, saying they "were hoping for new language in church law regarding enforcement in cases where local regions don't want to enforce church law." A proposal on enforcement will be up for a vote before the conference ends Friday. Local pastors gave mixed reviews to the vote against acknowledging different views of homosexuality. "I think there is a possibility that our church could split over this," said Connie Sterner, pastor of Bethany United Methodist Church in Berlin, Md., adding, "there was a day when neither divorcees or women could not be ordained either." Other pastors thought the rulings were in keeping with biblical teachings. "You cannot allow society to rule the church. Society has slipped over the years," said the Rev. Larry Edmonds of St. John's United Methodist Church in Springfield. "I think there will be some people here that will be unhappy that the ruling was what it was," he said. But personally, "I tend to play by the rules. If you cannot play by the rules, you should take your glove, and your ball and your bat, and go somewhere else." The Rev. Dean Snyder, pastor at the Foundry United Methodist Church in Northwest, where about a quarter of its 1,200-member congregation is homosexual, went to Pittsburgh on Monday to "observe and encourage delegates at the General Conference." Despite yesterday's vote, he was still hopeful that delegates would "say this is an issue we do not agree on so that we — as a church, who welcome all people including gay and lesbians and are a loyally committed church — might still be affirmed." "It would be great if I could make a difference in this decision," he said, adding that his church is faithful in paying their dues and actively sends missionaries overseas. "We are very loyal, it just happens we welcome gay and lesbians." Foundry United Methodist Church has welcomed homosexuals since 1992. •This article is based in part on wire service reports.

[Liberty Valance]

I am encouraged that this vote went the way it did. I was raised in dusty west Texas and the Methodist church was very much a traditional, gospel based congragation at that time.

[kidd]

I was at a Methodist wedding two weeks ago.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear the minister explicitly state that a marriage is between one man and one woman. I had thought that the Methodists were one of the squishy Protestant religions. It looks like they have a lot of liberals, but the conservatives have been activated.

[StonyBurk]

Seems th eMethodists are yet obediant Christians.Wish the
same could be said of the PUSA leadership--and other apostate churches like that one that ordained a homosexual
Bishop and divided a church.

[Esther Ruth]

"Way to start my morning!" :)

Amen

[guitfiddlist]

I will be very interested to see how this plays out at the faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaashionable, "progressive" Methodist church I left. The church's organ player was a half-way out of the closet gay - who panicked one day when he spent the night at the gay hairdresser's place next door - and the hairdresser told him who his neighbor was (I played guitar in the alternative service). The hairdresser later told me, and we both snickered about it.

He and the Duke-educated clergy that runs the place were so smug with their "more progressive than thou" attitudes, that they would openly flaunt in private. But in services, they would stand up in front of the conservative flock - and pass themselves off as traditionalists, while injecting their subtle little "progressivist" messages into the sermons.

I guess they thought, like I did, that UMC headquarters was going head-over-heels for all its Marxist-Socialist-Progressivist causes, and that the Gay Agenda would soon triumph.

[bmwcyle]

AMEN, we dodged the bullet this time. There is still over 400 Methodists the make me feel uneasy.

[Stand_Up]

." The Rev. Dean Snyder, pastor at the Foundry United Methodist Church in Northwest, where about a quarter of its 1,200-member congregation is homosexual,…
“adding that his church is faithful.”

Anyone else see a problem here?

[Stand_Up]

should have been said, “adding that His church is faithful.”

[em2vn]

"The church's organ player was a half-way out of the closet gay..."
Maybe not intended, but what a line. What a hoot.

[guitfiddlist]

"The church's organ player was a half-way out of the closet gay..." Maybe not intended, but what a line. What a hoot.

Believe me - I tried to avoid it. Piano player? Not accurate. Organist? Even worse. Music dude? Not definitive. I gave up.

[Esther Ruth]

“adding that his church is faithful.”
Anyone else see a problem here?

Praying they decide to stay Faithful to The Word of God instead of Man, and that they will Stand alone on the Word of God in obedience to HIM.

[DH]

"Both votes pleased church conservatives, while giving some ground to pro-homosexual Methodists on the issue."

Compromise is the cancer that will eat it's host.  The compromiser loses a little bit and the opponent gains a little bit.  Drip by drip, the Grand Canyon was made by single drops of water.

The end result is that the Methodists will eventually cave into the queers' wants without any doubt.  It's simply a matter of time.  The vote of 527-423 clearly shows that the end is very near.

[Zack Nguyen]

This vote is good, but too close. No offense intended here, but when you spend your convention arguing about something so fundamental and obvious, something that is spelled out in the Bible, then the game is already lost.

Liberals have penetrated the church, and it will be almost impossible to get them out.

The SBC threw the liberal out fifteen years ago, but the rot wasn't nearly as pervasive.

[Zack Nguyen]

The end result is that the Methodists will eventually cave into the queers' wants without any doubt. It's simply a matter of time. The vote of 527-423 clearly shows that the end is very near.

You may be right. And that is terrible. No offense intended to faithful Methodists here.

[Esther Ruth]

"The vote of 527-423 clearly shows that the end is very near."

Perhaps they have been asleep at the wheel in regards to church discipline - but this IS a start, they will perhaps suffer financially from this and it will be difficult if a good percentage begin to leave, but God is faithful and will honor those who stood firm.

[tdunbar]

Seems to me that, while some of the votes were close, all
decisions enhanced the orthodox position within the UMC.



Actions on homosexuality yesterday
¶ 138 – Add statement of nondiscrimination over sexual orientation and gender identity in the church – defeated 680-217

¶ 161G – Removed “although” from the statement “Although we do not condone the practice of homosexuality” – removed an amendment that “Christians disagree on the compatibility of homosexuality” – passed 527-423

¶ 161H – Add language protecting rights for same-gender couples (allow civil unions) and nondiscrimination regardless of sexual orientation – defeated 630-311

¶ 304.2 – Delete “fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness” – defeated 763-129

¶ 304.3 – Omitted “since” in the statement that “Since the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching” – passed 674-264

¶ 304.3 – Add language that “faithful Christians hold differing positions” – defeated 466-436

¶ 304.3 – Change “accepted as a candidate” to “certified as a candidate” and retain rest of original language – passed 484-434

¶ 304.4 – Delete “fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness” – defeated 806-95

¶ 332 – Allow homosexual unions or marriages – defeated 756-159 (and four additional similar petitions)

¶ 611.19 – Conference Council on Finance and Administration is to prevent the expenditure of annual conference funds to promote the acceptance of homosexuality – passed 497-418

¶ 2702 – Add “performing same-sex wedding ceremonies” as a chargeable offense – passed 455-445

[Esther Ruth]

¶ 611.19 – Conference Council on Finance and Administration is to prevent the expenditure of annual conference funds to promote the acceptance of homosexuality – passed 497-418


So 418 of them WANTED to use church money to promote the acceptance of homosexualtiy? Is that what that says?

[bmwcyle]

418 out of their minds