wfn.org | United Methodist bishops vow to uphold church law in verdict aftermath

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March 26, 2004 News media contact: Stephen Drachler7(615) 742-5411 or (615)
456-47107Nashville, Tenn. 7 E-mail: newsdesk@umcom.org 7 ALL-GLBT{134}

By United Methodist News Service

Leaders of the United Methodist Council of Bishops say that the
denomination's long-standing position on the ordination of homosexuals is not
affected by a church court decision involving a Washington State pastor.

The council's executive committee released a statement March 26 in response
to questions raised by the acquittal of the Rev. Karen Dammann, who had been
charged with violating a church law prohibiting the ordination of
self-avowed, practicing homosexuals.

A 13-member jury of pastors from the Pacific Northwest Annual (regional)
Conference acquitted Dammann after deliberating for more than 10 hours during
the four-day trial. While unanimously agreeing Dammann is a self-avowed,
practicing homosexual, the jury said it did not believe the church met its
"clear and convincing" burden of proof. 

The bishops reached agreement on the statement following a March 25
conference call organized by Bishop Ruediger Minor of Moscow, president of
the council. 

While reaffirming their "vow to uphold the Discipline of the United Methodist
Church," the members of the executive committee said the Pacific Northwest
case does not affect how other conferences adjudicate similar cases. They
urge United Methodists to remember that "this one case does not alter the
Book of Discipline regarding homosexuality or the qualifications for
ministry."

The committee called on church members to "join us in respectful, prayerful
dialogue... Let us find, affirm, and live a common understanding of our
doctrines and discipline."

The bishops said they are convinced that General Conference, the
denomination's top legislative body, "must be a place of prayerful
consideration of and agreement over our commonly held convictions and norms
for Christian teaching and living."

The 2004 General Conference will take place April 27-May 7 in Pittsburgh. The
legislative body meets every four years to consider proposals regarding the
Book of Discipline, which contains church law and social principles, and the
Book of Resolutions, which addresses social issues. The nearly 1,000
delegates at the conference represent 8.3 million United Methodists in the
United States and 1.7 million United Methodists who live in Europe, Africa,
and the Philippines. 

# # #

The entire statement is below.

A STATEMENT FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS,
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Re:  Response to the verdict in the Rev. Karen Dammann Trial

The verdict in the trial of Rev. Karen Dammann in the Seattle Episcopal area
has raised questions across the United Methodist Church.  The Council of
Bishops reminds the church this one case does not alter the Book of
Discipline regarding homosexuality or the qualifications for ministry.	The
Discipline's authority is unchanged.  Nor does this case directly affect
other Annual Conferences as they may adjudicate such cases.  

We affirm the leadership of Bishop Elias Galvan of the Seattle Area for
ensuring due process as prescribed by The Book of Discipline.  We affirm our
vow as bishops to uphold the Discipline of The United Methodist Church.  

As your bishops, we invite the church to join us in respectful, prayerful
dialogue and Christian conferencing to discern the Holy Spirit's leading. 
Together let us find, affirm, and live a common understanding of our
doctrines and discipline.  We are convinced that the General Conference must
be a place of prayerful consideration of and agreement over our commonly held
convictions and norms for Christian teaching and living.

The Dammann case does reveal continuing differences in the United Methodist
Church concerning the issue of homosexuality.  The Council of Bishops is
painfully aware of this disagreement.	In such moments as this, we remember
that our unity in Christ does not depend on unanimity of opinion.  Rather, in
Jesus Christ we are bound together by love that transcends our differences
and calls us to stay at the table with one another.

"And I will show you a still more excellent way... Love is patient and kind;
love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude.  Love does not
insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice
at wrong, but rejoices in the right.  Love bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends."  (I
Corinthians 12:31b, 13:4-8a)

March 25, 2004

 
 

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United Methodist News Service
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