Some Methodist clergy defy gay marriage ban

AP via SFGate ^ | 6/19/11 | DINESH RAMDE, Associated Press

[SmithL]

MILWAUKEE (AP) --

A growing number of pastors in the United Methodist Church say they're no longer willing to obey a church rule that prohibits them from officiating at same-sex marriages, despite the potential threat of being disciplined or dismissed from the church.

In some parts of the U.S., Methodist pastors have been marrying same-sex couples or conducting blessing ceremonies for same-sex unions for years with little fanfare and no backlash from the denomination. Calls to overturn the rule have become increasingly vocal in recent weeks, ratcheting up the pressure for the Methodist church to join other mainline Protestant denominations that have become more accepting of openly gay leaders.

While trials of pastors who conduct same-gender ceremonies have only occurred once every several years, the threat is indeed real: The Rev. Amy DeLong of Osceola in western Wisconsin faces a three-day trial starting Tuesday on two charges: violating a church prohibition on the ordination of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" and marrying a lesbian couple.

[SmithL]

In this June 16, 2011 photo, Rev. Amy DeLong sits at her home, in Osceola, Wis. While trials of pastors who conduct same-gender ceremonies have only occurred once every several years, the threat is indeed real: DeLong faces a three-day trial starting Tuesday, June 21, 2011, on two charges: violating a church prohibition on the ordination of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" and marrying a lesbian couple.

[Rapscallion]

Guilty. Defrock him.

[Rapscallion]

Guilty. Defrock him.

[Rapscallion]

Guilty. Defrock him.

[Rapscallion]

Guilty. Defrock him.

[Rapscallion]

Guilty. Defrock him.

[narses]

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[NoGrayZone]

1 Corinthians 6:9-10.... 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

[NoGrayZone]

1 Corinthians 6:9-10.... 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

[Bryanw92]

The UMC General Conference is next June in Tampa. The issues of gay marriage and ordaining gay Pastors will surely come up.

I pray that we vote to “continue studying” the issue for another four years.

[Bryanw92]

>> nor homosexuals,[a]

I’m curious...what’s the [a] footnote say in your Bible?

[Last Dakotan]

I’m curious...what’s the [a] footnote say in your Bible?

Made in China

[NoGrayZone]

Footnotes:

1. 1 Corinthians 6:9 That is, catamites

[Pollster1]

. . . a church rule that prohibits them from officiating at same-sex marriages

I guess violating this rule makes sense . . . if the "minister" also officiates at ceremonies celebrating murder, theft, adultery, dishonoring one's own parents, and those who hate their neighbors. What I don't understand is why someone who either doesn't believe in God, or believes but doesn't think that belief means one has to obey God, would bother with a career in ministry.

[WVNan]

Satan is working overtime to destroy the Church. He has the world already and is using it to destroy the church. People have been lured away from the foundations of their faith. Sad, but the homo-activists will split the UMC just as they have the Episcopals and Lutherans, and is also working on the PCUSA.

[xzins]

...what's the [a] footnote say in your bible?

Why do you ask?

[fwdude]

I pray that we vote to “continue studying” the issue for another four years.

If your Church sect is studying this issue in any way, you've already lost.

[Cronos]

In some parts of the U.S., Methodist pastors have been marrying same-sex couples or conducting blessing ceremonies for same-sex unions for years with little fanfare and no backlash from the denomination. Calls to overturn the rule have become increasingly vocal in recent weeks, ratcheting up the pressure for the Methodist church to join other mainline Protestant denominations that have become more accepting of openly gay leaders.

This is crazy and looking at the picture of the, ahem, lady in post 1 makes me think that saying no to women pastoresses is the right approach, not because of that little step in itself but for where it leads to.