Posted on 07/19/2015 7:53:12 PM PDT by markomalley
An openly gay United Methodist pastor said his "I Dos" in front of more than 30 clergy members and 100 guests Friday, days after he was forced to resign for having a partner.
The Rev. Benjamin Hutchison married his partner, Monty Hutchison, in a ceremony on the steps of the historic Cass County Courthouse.
Hutchison called it a joyous occasion.
"Walking around the courthouse and seeing all the support, seeing all clergy there gathered standing there saying that they support it, they're not opposed to it, it really was a blessing today."
Hutchison, 31, resigned earlier this week from his position as senior pastor at Cassopolis United Methodist Church Monday, where he had worked since January 2013, after the bishop's office received a report that he had a gay partner. Hutchison said he would have been fired had he not resigned.
Hutchison said it had been well known and accepted in the congregation that he is gay, and he even had legally changed his last name to Hutchison, his partner's last name, in February 2013. Hutchison said he understood when he took the job it might be difficult for the congregation and he understood it was against the United Methodist discipline.
The church accepts members who are gay, but its Books of Discipline states " ... "self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church."
The confrontation and Hutchison's resignation came as a blow to the congregation. Parishioners say Hutchison turned the Cassopolis United Methodist Church from one that was dying to one that was gaining new members. Hutchison said the church now has more than 140 members in its directory and it recently has become financially solvent.
Pastor Mark Thompson of Faith United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids officiated the ceremony with Ginny Mikita, a candidate for ordination within the United Methodist Church.
"I believe that Benjamin and Monty are very much in love and they deserve to be married and to celebrate the gift of love that God gave them," Thompson said.
Mikita said the United Methodist Church not approving of gay marriage has been her greatest stumbling block for continuing her candidacy. But, Mikita said, she felt the day was one of celebration and rejoicing.
"To be here today for Benjamin David, who had been a dear friend, ... to be able to walk that walk with him from the moment we met back in 2008 'til now, it's just remarkable," Mikita said.
Mikita said it was critical for Hutchison to have support for his ceremony on Friday.
"I believe that there is a swell of support that already exists within the denomination (of Hutchison)," Mikita said. "It only continues to grow, and I think it was evidenced here by the number of clergy that showed up not only from West Michigan congregations and conferences, but I met folks that came from the Detroit area and Illinois to be here today to demonstrate their support."
Mikita said the county clerk's office closed at 12:15 p.m. Friday for the ceremony, and to show support for the Hutchisons.
Rich First, a Stevensville resident who attended Hutchison's ceremony, credited Hutchison with pulling him out of his depression.
"I was very depressed, and one meeting with this pastor brought (me) out of depression so far that I started coming (to the church)," First said. "You would not believe the ability that this pastor has to make the whole church cry, laugh, rejoice you name it. I haven't been to church for 30 years and one afternoon with him changed that. I knew he was gay and the church knew too."
The Methodist Church has released a statement to media stating it will not comment on personnel matters such as Hutchison's. The statement goes on to say that the church's clergy and laity will discuss the church's official position on gay pastors at its General Conference in May 2016 in Portland, Ore.
Hutchison said he sees some change happening within the church, but would like to see it change further.
"I want the church to change," Hutchison said. "I believe the congregation, specifically in Cassopolis and Southwest Michigan and the Chicago area, has changed. The members have changed. They understand it. My members were in full support."
Because I wasn't sure whether the UMC had maintained the Scriptural view of marriage, I decided to look:
United Methodists are not of one mind regarding homosexuality and gay marriage. We understand that faithful people can have differing views on this. Some members, based on their understanding of scripture, feel strongly that the church should uphold its current laws regarding same gender marriage. Others feel just as strongly that the church should be fully inclusive, based on their understanding of scripture, including marriage equality. These different viewpoints are mirrored across most of the Christian world to varying degrees.
The United Methodist Church currently prohibits pastors from performing gay marriage ceremonies and churches from hosting such ceremonies.
Any change to allow United Methodist pastors to perform same sex marriage ceremonies would have to be approved by the denomination's top legislative body - the General Conference, which next meets in May 2016. There will likely be many petitions presented to General Conference for consideration - many that want to remain steadfast with the current position and many that want to change the church's stance. However, no changes will take effect unless approved by General Conference, as it is the only body that can approve changes to official statements.
While the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution guarantees a right to same sex marriage, they noted that First Amendment protections ensure that persons are not required to violate their religious principles.
Couples who want to be married in a United Methodist church can discuss it with the pastor.
By the way, in case I need to say it: prayers up for Methodists who wish to stay faithful to Christ.
Another agent of Satan wearing clericals.
so he became a pastor to change the church, sounds like yet another liberal fool who infiltrates .
Cassopolis? Now will be called Cessapoolis.
Thanks. We need it. It’s only a matter of time with our pastor. He’s spineless....and makes 6 figures. He’ll cave soon. Then, most of the church walks. I see it coming. We live in a very conservative area.
Exactly. The churches have been infiltrated.
boy scouts, Churches, military, big business , media .
The left knew according to their 1963 communist rules what to do and now they have done it, while our side stayed silent and reached out.
I was born and raised in the United Methodist Church. This morning, my Pastor launched into a “sermon” that turned out to be a diatribe against Israel. For the first time in my life, I stood up and walked out in the middle of the service. I haven’t decided yet what steps come next. I am saddened that the church my family has always loved has been infiltrated by people who love their progressive ideology more than God.
Amen.
Wonder if they ever read Genesis?
OMG, it seems as if perverts are taking over. How many are there?
I don’t understand the reticence of the UMC to take the full plunge into a mere social group with vestments and stained glass in the windows of their buildings. It’s only one small unscriptural step after another since going with women in the clergy.
"Walking around the courthousethe public bathroom
“celebrate the gift of love that God gave them?” How about this for fact: “celebrate the abomination of lust that god (satan) gave them.”
I am puzzled by why you think they would be.
This is all part of Satan’s plan - to infiltrate the churches - and those who weren’t very close to the Lord - will succumb. Hate to tell you this, but, perhaps it’s time for you to find another place to worship. One which believes and holds true to the Word of God.
Well isn’t that just so special....happy packing
Faggies are less than 2% of the population and they OWN the rest of us.
In 1917 it took less than 2% of the population of Russia to impose the Bolshevik revolution & the seventy years of communist rule that followed. Do the math & think about it.
Cesspoolis United Methodist Church?
Oh Cassopolis
not much of a difference anymore
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