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United Methodist bishops affirm church membership open to all November 3rd, 2005 at 9:59 pm By Tim Tanton* LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) - Homosexuality is not a barrier to membership in the United Methodist Church, the denomination’s bishops said Nov. 2, two days after the church’s top court supported a pastor’s refusal to allow a gay man to join. “While pastors have the responsibility to discern readiness for membership, homosexuality is not a barrier,” the bishops said in their pastoral letter to the people of the United Methodist Church. In a ruling announced Oct. 31, the Judicial Council supported the...

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...

Oct. 31, 2005 By Neill Caldwell* HOUSTON (UMNS) — United Methodist ministers do have the power to decide who becomes a member of the local church, the denomination’s top court has ruled, supporting a pastor who blocked an openly gay man from joining the congregation. The United Methodist Judicial Council, holding its regular fall meeting Oct. 26-29, issued two decisions related to the case of Rev. Ed Johnson, who was serving as senior pastor at South Hill (Va.) United Methodist Church until he was placed on involuntary leave of absence in June. In Decision 1031, the council dealt with the...

The man had been attending a Methodist church in South Hill, Va., for several months. He sang in the choir. He owned a business and was well known in the community. But when he asked to become a formal member of the church, the pastor turned him down, because he is gay. Those are the bare facts of a case that has split a 650-member congregation in southern Virginia and that threatens to divide the 8 million-member United Methodist Church, the nation's second largest Protestant denomination. Yesterday in Houston, the Methodists' highest court heard an appeal from the pastor of...

Pastor denies membership to homosexual, placed on leave July 26, 2005 A UMNS Report By Linda Green* A United Methodist pastor in Virginia has been placed on “involuntary leave of absence” for refusing to allow a homosexual to become a member of his congregation. The Rev. Edward Johnson was placed on a yearlong involuntary leave of absence, effective July 1, by action of the clergy of the denomination’s Virginia Annual (regional) Conference on June 13. He will receive medical benefits but no salary. The clergyman, pastor of South Hill (Va.) United Methodist Church for six years, could be reinstated as...

A United Methodist pastor in Virginia has been placed on "involuntary leave of absence" for refusing to allow a homosexual to become a member of his congregation. The Rev. Edward Johnson was placed on a yearlong involuntary leave of absence, effective July 1, by action of the clergy of the denomination's Virginia Annual (regional) Conference on June 13. He will receive medical benefits but no salary. The clergyman, pastor of South Hill (Va.) United Methodist Church for six years, could be reinstated as a United Methodist pastor in good standing if he fulfills recommendations from the conference's board of ordained...

Local minister placed on involuntary leave Refusal to admit homosexual as member an issue By Mike Bollinger Staff Writer SOUTH HILL - A controversial national issue has made its presence felt in the local area as a South Hill minister has been placed on "involuntary leave of absence" after refusing to admit a homosexual member to his church. The Rev. Edward Johnson of South Hill United Methodist Church has been placed on a one-year, unpaid leave, according to the Rev. W. Anthony Layman, district superintendent for the Petersburg District of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. "The pastor...

CONCORD, N.C. -- The patriarch of one of NASCAR's most powerful teams, Joseph Riddick "Papa Joe" Hendrick Jr., died Wednesday, a team spokesman confirmed. "Papa Joe" is the father of Rick Hendrick, the owner of Hendrick Motorsports, which fields the cars of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte and Brian Vickers in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and of Kyle Busch in the Busch Series. The team plans to release a statement later Thursday. Papa Joe and grandson Ricky Hendrick were co-owners of Vickers' team, as well as Busch's team. The road in Harrisburg, N.C. where Hendrick Motorsports is located...