wfn.org | Second group arrested in protest of church's policies regarding gays

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CLEVELAND (UMNS) - Two United Methodist bishops were among a group of 31
people arrested May 11, during a protest that temporarily halted legislative
proceedings at the denomination's quadrennial law-making assembly.

It is believed to be the first time anyone has been arrested on the floor of
the denomination's General Conference.

Bishops C. Joseph Sprague of Chicago and Susan Morrison of Albany, N.Y.,
were among those arrested. As the 27 were escorted from the Cleveland
Convention Center, their supporters - among them General Conference
delegates - shouted "Shame!" to the police officers for removing the
demonstrators and to the assembly for passing legislation prohibitive to
homosexuals. The supporters joined together singing "We Shall Overcome."
Several delegates, overcome by emotion, burst into tears, and the presiding
officer called a 15-minute recess.

Those arrested were charged with "disrupting a lawful meeting," a
misdemeanor that carries a $250 fine or 30 days in jail, said Cleveland
Police Lt. Sharon MacKay. She characterized those arrested as "very
cooperative." They were expected to be arraigned on May 12.

The protesters were demonstrating against church laws that condemn
homosexuality as "incompatible with Christian teaching," ban ordination of
homosexuals and forbid pastors from conducting same-sex unions. 

The arrests were the second of the 11-day assembly. Just a day earlier, 191
people - including Sprague - protested the church's anti-homosexuality
policies by blocking a convention center exit. Those protesters, organized
by the Soulforce coalition, were processed and released by the end of the
day.

The May 11 demonstration occurred as the General Conference voted on major
legislation concerning homosexuality. The protest was organized by AMAR, a
coalition of United Methodist groups that support full inclusion of gay men,
lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered persons.

During the morning session, after the assembly voted 628-337 to retain the
"incompatible" language in the Book of Discipline, about 48 AMAR members
interrupted the proceedings by lining the front and main aisles. About 150
more circled the perimeter of the floor and balcony.

Jeanne Smile, an observer, suddenly stood and shouted, teetering on the edge
of the upper balcony. "I've been gay all my life," she said weeping, her
arms out. Fearing she might fall, two other demonstrators grabbed and pulled
her to safety. Smile, who said she was not United Methodist, was later
escorted from the auditorium.

After demonstrators refused to leave the aisles, presiding Bishop Dan
Solomon of Louisiana called a 20-minute recess. When the session resumed in
the afternoon, delegates were considering petitions concerning pastors who
performed same-sex unions. After they voted to retain the ban on pastors
performing such unions, a handful of demonstrators walked onto the stage and
refused to leave. Solomon tried to regain order, gently chastising the
demonstrators for "breaking covenant" by disrupting the conference. 

After conferring with the protesters, Solomon allowed the group to address
the assembly. AMAR member Randy Miller, of Bethany United Methodist Church
in San Francisco, took the microphone.

"We are not strangers to this church," he said, noting that he and other gay
and lesbian United Methodist had been raised in the church, confirmed in the
church and attended Sunday school. But as they came into adulthood, they
were told they were not welcome, he added.

"The covenant is already broken; the tapestry is unwoven," Miller declared.
He and the others continued singing, joined by about 50 people in the
visitors' gallery and 20 to 30 delegates scattered throughout the assembly
floor.

Visibly shaken, Solomon said, "I speak with anguish in my own voice for the
circumstances that are about to unfold. ...I bury my head in prayer." 

Police escorted the demonstrators off the stage and out the side door of the
convention center. They were taken away in paddy wagons, as supporters
continued singing and crying.

The issue of homosexuality has been at the center of tortuous debate at
every United Methodist General Conference since 1972. The 2000 assembly
voted to retain: the declaration that homosexuality is "incompatible with
Christian teaching"; the ban against homosexual ordination and same-sex
union ceremonies; and the prohibition against using official church funds
for any organization or program that promotes homosexuality as an acceptable
lifestyle.

Besides the two bishops, several other well-known United Methodists were
among those arrested, according to an unofficial list provided by Marilyn
Alexander, interim executive director of the Reconciling Congregations
Program. They included: the Rev. Joe Agne, a former staff member with the
National Council of Churches; the Rev. Gilbert Caldwell, Denver pastor and a
founding member of Black Methodists for Church Renewal; the Rev. Greg Dell
of Chicago, suspended after a March 1999 church trial for performing a
same-sex ceremony; Mary Gaddis, a former spokesperson for Affirmation:
United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns; the
Rev. Jeanne Audrey Powers, a retired ecumenical officer for the
denomination; and Pat Schwiebert of Portland, Ore., author of Tear Soup.  
# # #
--M. Garlinda Burton

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United Methodist News Service
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