Church ousts lesbian pastor: Methodists also rehire cleric who barred gay man as member

Houston Chronicle ^ | 10/31/2005 | TARA DOOLEY

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

In a denomination divided over the role of homosexuals in its ranks, a United Methodist Church court Monday defrocked a lesbian minister and reinstated a pastor suspended for denying church membership to a gay man.

The nine-member Judicial Council, the denomination's highest court, released its decisions after hearings last week at Houston's First United Methodist Church Westchase campus.

The council ruled that the Rev. Irene "Beth" Stroud of Pennsylvania had violated church law that prohibits "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" in the clergy.

It also reinstated the Rev. Edward H. Johnson, pastor of South Hill United Methodist Church in Virginia, who had been suspended by his bishop after refusing to add a gay man to the church membership roster.

The ruling against Stroud means the 35-year-old cannot return to her job as associate pastor of Philadelphia's First United Methodist Church of Germantown.

"I had tried to be emotionally prepared for that possibility," Stroud said. "The news still came as a blow."

Stroud said she plans to continue her job as a lay member of the church staff, teaching a confirmation class and assisting in worship services.

She will not be allowed to celebrate church sacraments, such as baptisms.

The decision "shows without question that, at this point in its history, the United Methodist Church practices discrimination against people like me, against gay and lesbian people who may be qualified for ministry but who are in relationship with a partner," she said.

In December, a church trial found Stroud guilty of violating denomination law. The trial was held after Stroud disclosed to her congregation in 2003 that she was "a lesbian living in a committed relationship with her partner," Chris Paige. She was removed as associate pastor, though she continued to work as a lay person.

In April, an appeals court overruled the decision.

The Judicial Council decision overturns the appeal. The vote was unanimous, with one member absent. Two members signed a statement saying they agreed with the decision but "deeply regret the outcome."

The case was heard in Houston because a lay member of the Judicial Council, Mary Daffin, lives in the area. She voted with the majority on both cases.

The ruling does not end the discussion about homosexual clergy, said the Rev. Thomas Hall, who argued the case against Stroud for the church's Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. But it does emphasize that churches and their clergy must abide by the rules of the denomination.

"Once the rules are in place, once we have voted, when the dust clears, we need to honor them," Hall said.

In the second ruling, the Judicial Council reinstated Johnson after Bishop Charlene P. Kammerer of the Virginia Conference removed him from the pulpit.

By a vote of 5-3, with one member absent, the council overturned Johnson's suspension. It determined that "the appointed pastor in charge has the duty and responsibility to exercise responsible pastoral judgment in determining who may be received into the membership of a local church."

Writing for the dissent, the Rev. Susan T. Henry-Crowe of Atlanta said that the church rules do not give pastors discretion to exclude people.

"This decision compromises the historic understanding that the Church is open to all," she wrote.

[sirchtruth]

Wow! A church that actually believes it's more important to follow biblical principle than it's own perverted ways...

This will certainly cause a ruckus with lukewarm parishoners.

[madprof98]

. . . Rev. Susan T. Henry-Crowe . . .

Good Lord!

[GarySpFc]

Ping - UMC

[TexasGreg]

As I predicted, the UMC's "Supreme Court" (the Judicial Council) overruled the lower Jurisdictional Judicial Council's idiotic overturning of the trial court's verdict and sentence. The overturn reflected the facts that the Jurisdictional Council had no grounds for overturning the Trial-Court's decision.

As for the ruling on the Pastor who refused to admit a homosexual into membership ... that's a very interesting case. The problem, here, is more along the lines of failure to adhere to due-process. The Pastor did not receive due process by the Conference or the Bishop. Had due process been followed, he would not have been removed for this instance, though I suspect that a reprimand might have been issued.

[klva]

I hope the Church plans to monitor Ms. Stroud's confirmation classes.
I am glad to see the UMC make the right decisions in both cases. I have been worried about the direction and unity of the Church. This is a good sign.