Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Church divided over lesbian pastor's acquittal(They shouldn't be divided!)
Spokesman Review ^ | 03/22/2004 | Shannon Dininny, AP

Posted on 03/22/2004 9:39:20 PM PST by writer33

ELLENSBURG, Wash. -- The acquittal of a lesbian Methodist pastor charged with violating church doctrine drew praise and scorn Sunday across a denomination that may see its divisions over homosexuality laid bare at a major conference next month.

Saturday's acquittal of the Rev. Karen Dammann was celebrated Sunday at the church where she used to preach in Ellensburg, a small town in central Washington.

"I'm very pleased," said Dodie Haight, a member of the congregation who sat through Dammann's trial about 95 miles away in the Seattle suburb of Bothell. "I don't think the jury had an easy task, but I think they gave it long, thoughtful, prayerful consideration."

A 13-pastor jury acquitted Dammann, 47, of violating a church ban on ordaining "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals." If nine jurors had voted to convict, Dammann could have lost her ministry.

At one point during Sunday's service, during the sharing of joys and concerns, choir member Charlie McKinney s aid Dammann had taught the congregation about the power of truth.

"She did a courageous thing and a difficult thing," McKinney said. "She did this as a way to pull bricks from the age-old wall of prejudice, fear and exclusion."

But there was concern about the fallout for the United Methodist Church, the nation's third-largest denomination with 8.5 million U.S. members. The church, which cannot appeal the verdict, has repeatedly voted against loosening policies on gays and lesbians.

"I'm just stunned at this decision," said James Heidinger, president and publisher of the Methodist publication Good News. He said the jury committed "intellectual dishonesty" when it claimed church standards regarding homosexuality are unclear.

"I believe the vast majority of United Methodists are in grief and shock today. I'm personally heartbroken," said Patricia Miller, executive director of the Confessing Movement, a conservative movement within the church that claims more than 600,000 members.

"I think the issue is, a part of the jurisdiction has broken covenant with the rest of the church and has decided to go the way of the world, as opposed to being faithful to and abiding by church law."

The Methodist church's stance on homosexuality is on the agenda of its next General Conference, which begins April 27 in Pittsburgh. The conference, made up of nearly 1,000 delegates from around the world, is the denomination's top lawmaking body.

Church law prohibits the ordination of open gay and lesbians and the church's Book of Discipline declares being gay "incompatible with Christian teaching." However, the denomination's social principles support gay rights and liberties.

Several Pennsylvania delegates to the conference said they doubt Dammann's case will have much impact on the recurring debate over changing the Book of Discipline.

"I'd be surprised if we overturned that, even though there may be some (regional) annual conferences that want to," said the Rev. Arnold Rhodes, pastor of the Clarion First United Methodist Church about 60 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Delegates in the past two General Conferences, which are held every four years, voted by margins of 2-to-1 or more to keep the existing language, said the Rev. Joel Garrett, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in McMurray, Penn.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: homosexual; homosexualagenda; methodism; umc
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last
"She did a courageous thing and a difficult thing," McKinney said. "She did this as a way to pull bricks from the age-old wall of prejudice, fear and exclusion."

THE BIBLE IS VERY CLEAR ON THIS ISSUE! WHY ARE WE DEBATING PREJUDICE? THIS IS ACTIVISM OF THE WORST KIND!

I am not Methodist and this is utterly ridiculous. These radical homosexuals are trying to hijack morality. And now they've included our churches. It's despicable at the very least.

1 posted on 03/22/2004 9:39:21 PM PST by writer33
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: writer33
"I'm very pleased," said Dodie Haight, a member of the congregation who sat through Dammann's trial about 95 miles away in the Seattle suburb of Bothell. "

I need to take out my contacts and wear my glasses. I thought it was "Brothel" not Bothell.

2 posted on 03/22/2004 9:43:12 PM PST by Paleo Conservative (Do not remove this tag under penalty of law.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paleo Conservative
It's "Bothell" which is short for "mind-numbedrobot hell"
3 posted on 03/22/2004 9:46:18 PM PST by thoughtomator (Voting Bush because there is no reasonable alternative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: writer33
She is a lesbian, how does she get aquitted from a charge of being a lesbian??
4 posted on 03/22/2004 9:48:15 PM PST by GeronL (http://www.ArmorforCongress.com......................Send a Freeper to Congress!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: writer33
What is a "Methodist".

No disrespect,I am just un-familiar with this group.
5 posted on 03/22/2004 9:49:12 PM PST by Redcoat LI ("help to drive the left one into the insanity.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Redcoat LI
Methodist is a protestant group. They split from the Catholic church a long time ago. Lutherans are another group that split from the Catholic church as well.

Think of Lutherans as Catholic light. Think of Methodists as Lutheran light. I like to think of Methodists as a cross between Catholicism and Baptists.
6 posted on 03/22/2004 9:52:14 PM PST by writer33 (The U.S. Constitution defines a Conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: writer33
Isn't the United Methodist Church the liberal wing of the Methodists in the same way the ELCA is in the Lutheran Church?
7 posted on 03/22/2004 9:54:12 PM PST by luckymom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: GeronL
"She is a lesbian, how does she get aquitted from a charge of being a lesbian??"


You're only supposed to see shades of grey. Stop asking questions. Remember. Shades of grey. That will help in your diversity all the rest of your life. :) Sarcasm for your nighttime enjoyment.

And you're right. She can't be acquitted from being a lesbian. She openly admits that. It's a sad state of affairs. Isn't it?
8 posted on 03/22/2004 9:54:39 PM PST by writer33 (The U.S. Constitution defines a Conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: writer33
I was once a Methodist but left in the 70's due to waaay left social agendas and the disrespecting of scriptural truth in favor of a "living gospel". They've been lost for decades. Now they are dead!
9 posted on 03/22/2004 9:54:47 PM PST by cartoonistx
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: writer33
O.K,thanks for the info,where do they rate on a Consevative to Liberal scale?
10 posted on 03/22/2004 9:55:22 PM PST by Redcoat LI ("help to drive the left one into the insanity.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: writer33
Does anyone else think that the name of this quasi female minister is prophetic?
11 posted on 03/22/2004 9:55:42 PM PST by Eva
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: writer33
I suppose the Presbyterians would be the light-loafer Baptists?
12 posted on 03/22/2004 9:57:20 PM PST by GeronL (http://www.ArmorforCongress.com......................Send a Freeper to Congress!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Eva
Its not her actual name, she changed it to that. dam-man
13 posted on 03/22/2004 9:57:51 PM PST by GeronL (http://www.ArmorforCongress.com......................Send a Freeper to Congress!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: writer33
Technically, if 99% are against and 1% is in favor to anything, they're "divided". Problem is Liberals view this as an even split.
14 posted on 03/22/2004 9:58:40 PM PST by cincinnati65 (Rooting for the Panthers since 1995.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeronL
Seriously?
15 posted on 03/22/2004 9:59:50 PM PST by Eva
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: writer33
Pray for the Methodist.
16 posted on 03/22/2004 10:00:38 PM PST by Porterville (Did I spell something wrong? Does that make you mad? Poor baby.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Redcoat LI
What is a "Methodist".

Thats a good question, there seems to be no firm definition of that

On the liberal/conservative scale they run from liberal to conservative. In general, the hierarchy and spokesmen who spend the money are activist liberal and the people who pay the tithes are silent and dumb conservative.
17 posted on 03/22/2004 10:01:28 PM PST by Arkinsaw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: writer33; CyberCowboy777
Shameful show trial ping.
18 posted on 03/22/2004 10:01:34 PM PST by Libertina (Praises for Your day, Lord!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Eva
Thats what I read when this whole thing headed into 'religion court'.
19 posted on 03/22/2004 10:01:43 PM PST by GeronL (http://www.ArmorforCongress.com......................Send a Freeper to Congress!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: writer33
I am waiting for all these Christians who are upset at their respective churches to actually DO something, rather than just blather on about how "upset" they are...

I think in the main Protestant sects...Methodist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal.....if you have conservative beliefs, I don't know how you can either allow this sanctifying of gay clergy to go on, or how you can remain in your churches....

Empty pews would speak loudly....

I don't hate gays....we have respectable men on both sides of our family that are gay....

being gay, and being an openly gay minister are two differant things....

20 posted on 03/22/2004 10:04:30 PM PST by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson