wfn.org | Same-sex Union Ceremonies Supported

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CONTACT: 	Thomas S. McAnally
(10-21-28-71B){127}
				Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470
March 3, 1998

California-Nevada cabinet supports
pastors who perform same-sex unions

by Charley Lerrigo*

SAN FRANCISCO (UMNS) -- The cabinet of the California-Nevada Annual
Conference has publicly affirmed its support of United Methodist pastors
who perform holy unions between "loving, committed life partners" and
has expressed appreciation for the ministry of embattled Rev. Jimmy
Creech.  
	Creech is the first United Methodist pastor to face a church
trial for violating a statement of the denomination's Social Principles
that would ban holy unions. He is currently on suspension as senior
pastor of First United Methodist Church in Omaha, Neb. His church trial
will begin in Kearney, Neb., March 11.
	The 1996 General Conference, the denomination's top legislative
body, added a sentence to a paragraph on marriage in its Social
Principles that states: "Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions
shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in
our churches."
	The Rev. Karen Oliveto, pastor of Bethany United Methodist
Church in San Francisco, appeared at a Feb. 28 press conference with
Creech, reporting that her congregation has been performing holy unions
"for decades" as part of its commitment to social justice and as a
pastoral service for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered persons. 
	The outpouring of support came as Creech and his family appeared
at San Francisco's Metropolitan Community Church and were warmly
welcomed by two other local United Methodist congregations.
	At the press conference in the Metropolitan church, the Rev.
Thomas Kimball, superintendent of California-Nevada's Golden Gate
District, reported that the cabinet, headed by Bishop Melvin G. Talbert,
had been asked to clarify what it would do "if one of our pastors came
to us, saying that they wanted to perform a holy union."  
	The cabinet, said Kimball, was "unequivocal" in supporting "the
right of our pastors to be pastors in the local settings."
Referring to a public statement by Bethany United Methodist Church that
it would continue to perform holy unions for gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered persons, Kimball said the cabinet "affirmed" Bethany's
decision to "provide opportunity and space for celebration of holy
unions between loving, committed life partners."
	The next evening, at a packed worship service in the
Metropolitan Community Church, Kimball also told Creech that "if
Nebraska kicks you out, we'll find a place for you."
	At that same worship, Bay View District Superintendent Bruce
McSpadden backed Creech's assertion that it is not the Omaha pastor who
is on trial, but the denomination.
"I am here," McSpadden told the gay/lesbian congregation,
"to stand in repentance because of the church's sin" against sexual
minorities.  
	He declared his hope that the final result of the matter might
be that "every church and United Methodist institution" might be
transformed to be open to all persons.
	The Rev. Jim Mitulski, pastor of the Metropolitan Community
Church congregation, called on the United Methodist Church "and others
like it...to stop its persecution of our people and our advocates."  
	Metropolitan churches have celebrated gay and lesbian marriage
as a sacrament for 30 years, Mitulski noted. "Gay marriage is a reality.
We expect to see it recognized and legalized in the next few years. The
churches can be in the vanguard, or they can bring up the rear."
	In her remarks during the press conference, Bethany pastor
Oliveto said her congregation supports Creech as he faces trial "for
doing the very same thing Bethany expects of its pastor: to respond to
the pastoral needs of the community, including its lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgendered members."
	"There are too many people who say that the honoring of
relationships of faithfulness and fidelity is...an inappropriate (act).
We say that it is inappropriate for the church to withhold blessing from
loving couples, straight or gay.
	"And we, know," she added, "that it is not the United Methodist
Church or any religious body that creates blessings. Rather the role of
the church is to recognize, honor and affirm the blessings already
bestowed by God."
				#  #  #	
* Lerrigo is editor of the California Nevada United Methodist Review and
a San Francisco pastor.

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