I say that this article's characterization of the denomination as split into "progressive" and "conservative" camps based in the north and south entirely misses the mark. I say the denomination is, instead, split into orthodox and ultra-liberal with only 2 western conferences and pieces of the northeast and north central supporting that ultra-liberal, non-Christian position. (Interestingly, the number of methodists in our western conferences is very low and nowhere near the number of our smaller conferences in the central and south.)
There is so much left out of this article that should be included. However, let me suggest that there are errors in this article.
She was raised Roman Catholic and from childhood had wanted to become a priest. She studied theology in college, earned a master's degree and began work in the campus ministry at Seattle University. She also served as a chaplain for the Army Reserves and worked for the archdiocese.
The above indicates that she was a "catholic" chaplain in the Army Reserves. I am a retired Army chaplain, and I know that to be an outright lie or an ignorant mistake.
There is ABSOLUTELY no such thing as a female Catholic priest, and there is ABSOLUTELY no Catholic chaplain who is not a fully ordained, Catholic priest. It is entirely in opposition to the standards of the Army Chaplaincy to have ANY chaplain who is not fully acceptable and ordained by the sending denomination. There is no way that the Catholics COULD "send" a female priest.
If this article will make this egregious kind of misrepresentation about this point, then what else will it misrepresent?
Finally, I have been told that "Dammann" is not this woman's original name, but is instead a name that she adopted. I will see if I can find a reference for that.
Dam Mann -- if true, it says a lot about what is going on here.
The article also compared it to slavery, wasn't it subtle??