UMC Pastors protest NOT to be able to preform Gay Weddings.

[Stan]

Source

Pastors defy United Methodist officials to conduct gay weddings

Some have officiated at such ceremonies, some plan to and 82 retired ministers have offered their services. Bishop warns that violating church guidelines has consequences.

By Duke Helfand, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

July 17, 2008

Scores of United Methodist Church ministers in California are putting their careers on the line in an open revolt against religious edicts that forbid them to conduct weddings for gay and lesbian couples.

The pastors could lose their jobs and clerical credentials in the church, the nation's second-largest Protestant denomination.

Ministers in Santa Monica, Claremont, Walnut Creek and other cities have already performed ceremonies for gays and lesbians or are planning to do so.

In addition, 82 retired pastors in Northern California signed a resolution in June offering to perform such weddings on behalf of ministers who feel they can't do so themselves.

Pastors have been emboldened by United Methodist assemblies in California that declared their support last month for the state Supreme Court's recent ruling overturning a ban on same-sex marriage.

The regional assemblies -- composed of lay leaders and clergy from California and other states -- also urged pastors and congregations to "welcome, embrace and provide spiritual nurture" for gay couples.

Defenders of gay marriage say they want to compel the 11-million-member denomination to live up to its slogan -- "Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors."

"I'm tired of being part of a church that lacks integrity," said the Rev. Janet Gollery McKeithen of Santa Monica's Church in Ocean Park, who plans to conduct weddings for two gay couples in August and September. "I love my church, and I don't want to leave it. But I can't be part of a church that is willing to portray a God that is so hateful. I would rather be forced out."

The two bishops who oversee United Methodist churches in California -- Mary Ann Swenson and Beverly J. Shamana -- have cautioned ministers against taking matters into their own hands.

Conducting same-sex weddings, the bishops have said in correspondence, violates provisions in the Book of Discipline, which lays out the laws and guidelines that govern the church. Under church rules, bishops and others are required to investigate complaints that can be filed by any church member.

"Pastors need to know that there are consequences," said Swenson, of the California-Pacific Annual Conference, which covers Southern California, Hawaii, Guam and Saipan. "We are bound to honor the policy of our denomination."

The turmoil in the Methodist church is occurring in variations across the Protestant landscape, with some religious authorities glimpsing what they believe are the seeds of rifts, perhaps even schisms, in mainline denominations.

But the conflict is having an immediate effect on United Methodists, as pastors in California wage a struggle that many characterize as the civil rights cause of their generation.

At the heart of the dispute is the Book of Discipline. The book calls the practice of homosexuality incompatible with Christian teaching and says "ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches."

In addition, it excludes "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" from the ministry.

But as defenders of gay marriage note, the text also says that "certain basic human rights and civil liberties are due all persons. We are committed to supporting those rights and liberties for homosexual persons."

This spring, the United Methodist Church's international governing body, the General Conference, reaffirmed the existing language on homosexuality. Then in June, California's two governing bodies approved their resolutions supporting gay weddings.

One measure adopted by Southern California's Methodist leaders recognized "the pastoral need and prophetic authority" of clergy and congregations to make marriage available to all. In a nod to the repercussions, the measure urged "compassion and understanding in any resulting disciplinary actions."

A separate resolution from the Northern California and Nevada contingent commended its retired pastors for offering their marriage services.

When a clergy member asked Bishop Shamana, who oversees Northern California and Nevada, to rule on the retired pastors' resolution, she called it a "commendable gesture" but declared it "void and of no effect."

Shamana, in a ruling released June 21, said regional authorities did not have the power to offer services that the international governing body had found to be "chargeable offenses against the law of the United Methodist Church."

But some members of the clergy remain undaunted. One of the authors of the retired ministers' measure, Don Fado, said he would willingly violate the guidelines on same-sex marriage as a matter of conscience, even if it meant the loss of clerical credentials and financial benefits.

"We are willing to put our professions on the line because this is so central to our ministry," said Fado, 74, retired pastor of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Sacramento. "Any pastor who is called upon to make that decision knows there are 82 of us who are willing to make that stand."

Some conservative United Methodists believe that the debate over church rules ignores a deeper issue -- the Bible's prohibitions against homosexuality. "We have lost any ability to have a biblical discussion on the topic," said the Rev. John McFarland, senior pastor of Fountain Valley United Methodist Church.

Still, with the November election approaching -- featuring a measure to ban same-sex marriage in California -- some ministers are forging ahead with weddings.

The Rev. Sharon Rhodes-Wickett of Claremont United Methodist Church joined a retired deacon from her congregation to co-officiate at the July 5 wedding of two longtime members, Howard Yeager and Bill Charlton.

The wedding was held off site -- at a Claremont complex for retired clergy and missionaries -- to avoid violating the rule against such ceremonies in churches.

Rhodes-Wickett, who led the Lord's Prayer and gave a homily, said she hoped to avoid discipline by stopping short of actually pronouncing the couple married. That action was performed by the retired deacon, who also signed the marriage license.

Rhodes-Wickett said she did not want Yeager and Charlton to leave her church to exchange vows.

"This is my flock," she said, adding that the men have been together 40 years, 22 of them as members of her Claremont congregation. "It's a matter of integrity and a matter of what it is to be a pastoral ministry."

duke.helfand@

latimes.com

[John317]

Thanks for this very interesting post. It looks like a storm is brewing. It has already caused divisions in some denominations.

I don't think there is any question that the same issues will soon be facing our own Adventist church.

How will our ministers and conferences respond? What decision will ultimately be made?

Will our church be willing to stand up for Bible truth on the issue even if it means making an unpopular choice and risking the anger of the society at large as well as resistance from some within the church itself?

[Parade Orange]

What many people here dont understand that there is a biblical sound progay theology that addresses the scriptures that speak of homosexualty.

Thats why these churches, clergy, and congregations accept homosexualty.

[John317]

Yes, I agree. I'm very familiar with those arguments. I used to read them in publications I picked up as a member of the gay Metropolitan Community Church. What those arguments come down to is that Moses and Paul were not expressing God's will but their own personal prejudices and those of the society of their day. These arguments flatly contradict the Bible by saying that 1 Cor. 6: 9, 10 is false and that many practicing gays will in fact be in the kingdom of God.

Another argument they use is that the homosexual practices condemned in the Bible are those related to false religious worship. Therefore, on this view, the Bible does not condemn homosexual practices by those who accept Jesus Christ.

[Parade Orange]

and dont forget twhat the Bible says about David and Jonathan and that the old levitical laws are nailed to the cross. wearing clothesof diferent material is also banned. All in the same area.

also its adressing hetersexual men leaving whats natural to them and be with men.Cause its against Their natures. but since gay men are born that way its unnaatural for them to be with women in its self

Also the story in Abraham and the angels with lot as well as Judges is about RAPE not a monogomous loving nuturing gay relationship.

I too attended the gay Metro church and read books cause I wanted GOD and my hot man on man sex. But in deepest inner heart could not beleive that is right. but I have met wonderful Godly christians in that church that do believe that theology.

[olger]

Thanks for being honest. There are many godly believers that take the Bible for what it says and renounce homosexual & lesbian activity as sin. They are right to do so, and the Spirit bears them witness.

Then there are those who are standing in rebellion to God and calling homosexual sin good. I don't think we can fathom the sheer force of that day when the Son of Man is revealed and the hearts of men are exposed. We in our cultural rebellion will hear those eternal words "I never knew you." The night is far spent, and repentance tonight is our only hope.

When we stand surrounded by the kingdom of God, we will realize how dark the kingdom of this world was. And we thought we were light..

oG

[John317]

and dont forget twhat the Bible says about David and Jonathan...

I know what the MCC and other gay organizations say about David and Jonathan. They say that David and Jonathan had a romantic, sexual relationship. But that is not what the Bible says.

It is reading into the text what it does not say.

When David had an illicit relationship with Bathsheba, God punished him by allowing his baby to die. Therefore, if David had had a homosexual relationship with Jonathan-- something that was a capital crime under the law of God at that time-- it is reasonable to conclude that God would not have been silent about it.

Quote:

.... and the old levitical laws are nailed to the cross. wearing clothesof diferent material is also banned. All in the same area.

Yes, I remember reading that same argument in literature supporting the concept that homosexuality is not a sin.

It fails to distinguish those things in the Levitical law that no longer apply to Christians and those things in the Levitical law that do apply to Christians.

Certainly it is not necessary for Christians to sacrifice animals. But there is much of the Levitical law that does apply to us. The argument that homosexuality is all right because the Levitical law was nailed to the cross totally ignores the fact that the same prohibition against homosexual practices are contained in the NT. 1 Cor. 6: 9,10; Romans 1: 24ff; 1 Tim. 1: 10; Rev. 22: 15.

Check out God's prohibitions against males having sexual relations with males in Lev. 18: 22 and 20: 13. You will notice that Lev. 18: 24 specifically singles out that kind of immorality, as well as others named in chapter 18, as the reason that God cast out the nations which previously inhabited the land of Canaan. Therefore, God was not requiring something that was limited to Israel or to that particular time and place.

Quote:

also its adressing hetersexual men leaving whats natural to them and be with men.Cause its against Their natures. but since gay men are born that way its unnaatural for them to be with women in its self

Yes, this is their argument. I know.

I have no doubt that I was born "gay." I lived off and on with men for about 30 years. I almost came to the point about 3 yeas ago of completely giving up and just accepting the fact that I was that way and nothing could be done about it. But God is able to help us overcome even those sinful tendencies that we are born with. It doesn't happen overnight but with lots of prayer and perseverance it does happen. There is no question of God's power to do it. The only question is whether we truly want God to do it and are willing to cooperate with him.

As a matter of fact, it comes down to making up our mind that we would rather die than sin. Because giving up our homosexual desires and needs is the same as dying to everything. When I gave that up, I had to decide that my life was not important. The only thing important at that point was Christ, not my wishes or my desires or my body.

1 Cor. 6: 9-11 shows that God has given homosexuals complete victory before, and there are gays in modern times who formerly practiced the gay-life style for many years but who, by God's grace, no longer live that way.

Quote:

Also the story in Abraham and the angels with lot as well as Judges is about RAPE not a monogomous loving nuturing gay relationship.

Yet the Bible no where indicates that homosexual relationships are OK if the partners are in a "monogamous loving, nurturing gay relationship."

It simply says that it is wrong for males to have sexual relations with another male.

[Parade Orange]

Olger, yes God bless you.

But dont misunderstand the wonderful point of christians who do have different theology than us more conservative faiths.

We know many penticostals,catholics,baptists,methodists and so on who dont know or understand or convicted of many truths that WE do know,understand, and convicted of...

God knows knows. and praise GOD many will enter the kingdom cause they place their faith in JESUS but still errant in their theology.

[John317]

When we are sincere and honest with God, and are seeking to know the truth, God will make a way for us to learn and He will teach us through His Word by the Holy Spirit. There are a lot of instances where God has placed books and literature or people in positions where others who were hungry to learn truth could find out about it.

It is certainly true that there are Christians who have a different view than Adventists on this subject. We can't know other people's hearts and minds. All we have to go by are actions. Only God knows the heart and the intentions.

[Parade Orange]

praise God!

[GreatLakesGramma]

How does one "preform" a wedding?

[Dr. Shane]

I have built a couple of UMC churches. I remember one I built where they were debating if they wanted to buy chewy communion bread. One of the elders made the comment that if it tastes better and will increase attendance they should go with it. It just struck me odd that no one was concerned about tradition or theology. The issue was just if it would taste could and increase attendance.

[olger]

If taste is the issue, why not serve brownies?

[cricket]

How does one "preform" a wedding?

Happens all the time here in the mid-west. Never heard of a rehearsal dinner?

[Dr. Shane]

If we served brownies maybe more people would come to communion. We better keep that idea under our hat.

[Woody]

What do you plan on havin in them brownies?

Could be a good idea though.

[Dr. Shane]

well, if it is the Adventist church they would have to be made with carob instead of cocoa.

[Woody]

Good Point Shane.