wfn.org | Talbert, 'saddened' by decision, says he will uphold Discipline

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Aug. 14, 1998	Contact: Thomas S. McAnally*(615)742-5470*Nashville,
Tenn.      {483}

By Charley Lerrigo*

SAN FRANCISCO (UMNS) - United Methodist Bishop Melvin G. Talbert
acknowledged he was "deeply saddened" by the Aug. 11 decision of the
denomination's Judicial Council making the celebration of a same-gender
marriage a chargeable offense for United Methodist clergy, but said he
would abide by the Book of Discipline and the council's decision.

Earlier this year, the California-Nevada bishop said he did not consider
performance of a holy union cause for bringing clergy to trial-unless
"otherwise instructed by the Judicial Council."  The Social Principles,
where the ban on holy unions was inserted by the 1996 General
Conference, are not binding as law, he argued.

Now the Judicial Council has ruled otherwise, saying that clergy who
perform such unions can be charged with disobeying the order and
discipline of the church, taken to a church trial, and risk having their
ministerial credentials revoked.   Talbert told a San Francisco
Chronicle reporter that  no disciplinary actions would be taken against
pastors who have performed same-sex ceremonies in the past. "Now that
the law has been clarified," he said, "we have to hold people
accountable."

In  March, at least 40 California-Nevada clergy said they will perform
holy unions.  That  declaration of conscience is signed nationally by
more than 240 clergy.  Talbert said he would not entertain charges
against pastors for publicly announcing their views in favor of
same-gender ceremonies.  The church law does not pertain to the signing
of statements, but about performing a specific act, he noted.  The
Judicial Council decision is about church law,
not a restriction of conscience, he said.

This is not the first time, Talbert added, that he has disagreed with an
official church position but  he emphasized that as a bishop, he would
uphold the Discipline of the church.
# # #
*Lerrigo is editor of the California Nevada United Methodist Review
newspaper.

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(615)742-5470
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