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.

[Delphinium]

The Methodist church in our Idaho town, population 3000 has a lesbian pastor who lives with her lover.

I don't think anyone believes it is a Christian church.

[bmwcyle]

Ping

[lexington minuteman 1775]

In the church we are to "be in the world, but not of it" Seems to me the Methodists are a part of that Relativism that the new pope talked about. Anytime you water down the Gospel to be more "inclusive" You run the risk of making the Church more like the world and less like Jesus called it out to be.

[BibChr]

Thanks. Got link?

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Got it from AppyPappy, contact him, I'm sure he can supply you with the link.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Sorry, took a minute, here is a link.

http://www.umc.org/

[bmwcyle]

We UMC'ers of VA have not been close to our MD brothers in many items. Satan is keeps forcing himself in the door. I just emailed my paster with this with this one.