Lesbian minister faces a church trial

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER ^ | March 13, 2004 | WYATT BUCHANAN

[Proverbs 3-5]

ELLENSBURG -- Karen Dammann never chose to take on the Methodist church.

She chose to be a minister, a right that women in the church have had since 1956.

Then she fell in love, with a woman named Meredith Savage.

When Meredith gave birth to a son five years ago, Dammann adopted him.

In 2001, Dammann decided that she could not live in the closet and minister at the same time -- she felt dishonest to herself and to her parishioners. She wrote to her bishop, telling him that she was in a relationship with a woman and had a 2-year-old son. She asked for an assignment to pastor a church, her right as a church elder.

What Dammann thought would be a simple "yes" or "no" answer to determine the next step in her life has forced the country's second-largest Protestant denomination -- and one of the most progressive -- to address the same question facing the rest of the nation: How much does sexual orientation matter?

Next week, 13 United Methodist ministers will answer that question for Dammann at a church trial in Bothell. She is accused of being unfit to serve as a minister because she is a self-avowed, practicing lesbian.

[Proverbs 3-5]

This is one reason I left the Methodist church. They seem to have forgotten the words of it’s founders:

John Wesley noted that “sanctification does not lead to spiritual perfection, because we all remain sinners. But at least, the one sanctified consciously, consistently rejects sin.” His father called it “the internal witness of the Holy Spirit.”

John Wesley’s own words on what it meant to be a Methodist “… He follows, not the customs of this world, for vice does not lose its nature through becoming fashionable…”

[Lion in Winter]

The Methodists... they need a COME TO JESUS MOMENT!

Liberal, weak and getting smaller everyday.

What a shame.

[Ignatz]

Just Dammann!

[jocon307]

“… He follows, not the customs of this world, for vice does not lose its nature through becoming fashionable…”

Very well put, poor old fellow must be rolling in his grave. It is very hard to live nowadays and not think we are in the last times. And I'm a Roman Catholic and I think that, so how bad is it really?

[Trillian]

When ministers, bishops, priests etc. can't follow and live by the word of God, it's when they need to find a new profession.

[GaConfed]

I went to my mom and dad's Methodist church a couple of Sundays ago. It was like taking a stoll through the Land of the Living Dead.

[strongbow]

Wesley's biography is a remarkable read, hard to believe his name is still attached to the Methodist church. I left the UMC over twenty years ago because a similar pastor situation which awakened me to the plight of this once great institution. Pray that the Lord will discipline those he loves and they will not resent his rebuke. My parents are faithful to the UMC but are spiritually starved there.

[rogueleader]

Bush and Cheney are both Methodists.

[Proverbs 3-5]

I have no problem with that. I know many good people that are Methodists. I hope that I did not imply that to be a good Christian one had to abondon the Methodist Church. You could have argued that I should have stayed and try to change it rather than leave... But at the time I needed to be fed, not fight.

[Cicero]

Wesley was a remarkable man. He not only founded the Methodists, but his work led to a great reform of the Anglican Church, which was virtually dead in the 18th century.

[Essie]

I'm a Methodist. I live in a small West Texas city. The Methodist churches here are quite conservative. Please notice where the article took place-Seattle. It is my impression that the northern Methodist churches are small, very liberal, and shrinking. The Texas churches are large, conservative and growing. Unfortunately, many of the Methodist leaders at the national level are very liberal and out of touch with the conservative part of the church. I believe that if they approve gay marriage that the church will split.

[oceanperch]

Small World Karen and Merideth live part time here in Newport.

They moved here so that their son could be close to his Gay Father.

Nice people with horrible taste in home decor. They do come across as snooty lib types a bit.

Gee I wonder if my Priest and Church would allow me to take Holy Communion if I decide to give into my libedo and attraction to younger men on a regular basis say move a few in to help around the house and bedroom.
Hey, I am done parenting and a single sexually on fire 40 something woman.

Heh heh actually fell for the pool guy last summer and still paying for that lusting for his flesh. Pretty well dusted off now and back on the chaste wagon. Sex is like a drug no doubt.

Personally if I chose to give into my lust I could not with and would not particpate in my religeon can't have it both ways. IMO

Obviously others want their cake and ice cream too.
I think not.

[EdReform]

Ping

What We Can Do To Help Defeat the "Gay" Agenda

Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links (Version 1.1)

The Stamp of Normality

[hellinahandcart]

"vice does not lose its nature through becoming fashionable" bump...

[bobo1]

I have the greatest respect and admiration for the writings of Wesley and use his notes extensively. I know many fine Methodists and those that came out of the Wesleyian holiness movement (Nazarenes). It is unfortunate that those with such a fine history of service to God would even have to debate such an issue that is clearly, emphatically opposed to the Word of God.

This is a no-brainer.

Blessings, Bobo

[little jeremiah]

Homosexual Agenda Ping + Protestant Churches and their moment of truth. Will they see the light?

Let me know if anyone wants on/off this pinglist.

[LiteKeeper]

She is accused of being unfit to serve as a minister

Too late - she was "unfit" before she was ordained, since the Scriptures don't allow for the ordination of women (1 Tim 3)

[sfRummygirl]

The Methodist Church is a shell of what it was. It's so sad.

[John O]

I live in a small West Texas city. The Methodist churches here are quite conservative. Please notice where the article took place-Seattle. It is my impression that the northern Methodist churches are small, very liberal, and shrinking. The Texas churches are large, conservative and growing.

This is a truism across the country. The conservative churches are growing and the liberals are dying off.

You'd think that the church leadership would notice but they (in many cases) are more interested in advancing the liberal social agenda than in seeing souls saved. May God save and change them, or kill them before they drag others to hell with them.

[freedumb2003]

Not for those with sensitive ears but a classic