Methodists to Reinstate Defrocked Minister

Associated Press ^ | Friday, Apr. 29, 2005 - 11:51 AM | FOSTER KLUG Associated Press Writer

[RobertP]

Methodists to Reinstate Defrocked Minister Updated: Friday, Apr. 29, 2005 - 11:51 AM

By FOSTER KLUG Associated Press Writer

LINTHICUM, Md. (AP) - The United Methodist Church reversed itself Friday, deciding to reinstate a lesbian minister who was defrocked after revealing her relationship with another woman.

A church panel voted 8 to 1 to set aside an earlier decision to defrock Irene "Beth" Stroud for violating the church's ban on openly gay clergy.

The Philadelphia minister said she was relieved by the ruling and hopes the church will become more inclusive to people regardless of sexual orientation.

After Stroud disclosed the relationship to her congregation two years ago, the church defrocked her, meaning that she could no longer serve communion or baptize anyone. She kept the title of associate minister and worked in a lay capacity at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown in Philadelphia.

"The church is not free to disregard the standards of justice and inclusiveness that are preached by Jesus Christ ... and are a part of church law," Stroud said after church authorities read their decision at a hotel.

"The ruling gives us hope that the United Methodist Church has the resources to do justice," she said.

[RobertP]

I am not leaving the Methodist Church, it is leaving me. This Sunday I am going to start going to my mother in law's church, a Christian Missionary Alliance church.

[TheDon]

There seems to be a sifting going on in the Christian churches. A wheat and the tares kind of sifting.

[One Proud Dad]

Everyday I rely more on scripture than I do the church and people.

[Bonaparte]

Good for you!

[Sthitch]

I was raised a Methodist. Today I am a Catholic. This is just one more example of why I made the correct choice.

[EdReform]

Ping

[lepton]

The Philadelphia minister said she was relieved by the ruling and hopes the church will become more inclusive to people regardless of sexual orientation voiced intent to sin.

[Conservative Goddess]

I left the Methodist Church YEARS ago, because of it's activities in and through the National Council of Churches. I'm convinced the UMC is a Communist front organization.

[lilylangtree]

Appears organized religion is down the tubes.

[ZULU]

How about polygamists, polyandrists, paedophiles, beastiality and S & M ???

Will THEY be next in the culture of "inclusion"?????

Methodist Church + Presbyterian Church + Anglican Church =
anti-Christian and anti-bible.

[kittymyrib]

And on the Day of Judgement, when Jesus separates the sheep from the goats, many will say, "Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in your name?" And Jesus will say, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers." (Matthew 7:22,23) Pitiful.

[Barney Gumble]

The Methodist Church has now been marginalized.

[joesnuffy]

Deists on meth

[TaxRelief]

You are wrong.

PCUSA is liberal (Presbyterian)
ECUSA is liberal (Episcopalian, 1.3 million members)
UMC is liberal (Methodist)

PCA is conservative (Presbyterian)
AMIA is conservative (Anglican, 71 million members)

[Barney Gumble]

Lol!

[SWAMPSNIPER]

The Methodist Church left You about 40 years ago. You must have a strong stomach to have hung around so long.

[ZULU]

What church did you join?

[rod1]

Well isn't that lovely. The church creed by now must be something akin to that "all-inclusive" Cole Porter lyrics "Anything Goes".

It also reminded me of why I grew up a Methodist, was a member for decades, but chose to leave that church some time ago.

[wideawake]

Whatever method there is to this madness, it's not John Wesley's.

[Protagoras]

Appears organized religion is down the tubes.

Hardly. But some denominations certainly are.