Gay Methodist pastor retains his job

Christian Century, June 19, 2002

A year after disclosing his homosexuality and putting his job in jeopardy, an openly gay United Methodist pastor has been cleared to remain in his Seattle pulpit. A church panel could not find enough evidence to charge Mark Edward Williams of Woodland Park United Methodist Church with violating church rules.

The nine-member committee on investigation, similar to a grand jury, said on May 30 that it "found there was not reasonable cause to forward this matter for a church trial," according to United Methodist News Service.

Last June, Williams announced he was gay and set off a case that reached the denomination's highest court. The Judicial Council ruled in November that coming out as a gay man warranted a ministerial review. Bishop Elias Galvan of Seattle filed formal charges against Williams for breaking church teaching that calls homosexual acts "incompatible with Christian teaching." The new decision brings those charges to an end.

Members of his congregation, where Williams has been senior pastor since 1999, had supported the pastor and welcomed news of the dismissal of his case. Williams said that he emphasized during the panel's investigation that his year-ago statement was meant to refer to his sexual orientation only and "at no point have I ever intended to discuss my sexual behavior."