UMC agency seeks change in gay stance

Christian Century, April 19, 2003

The social policy agency of the United Methodist Church will ask the denomination to soften its position on homosexuality to acknowledge deep divisions and disagreements among its members. The nation's second-largest Protestant body will meet in Pittsburgh next year for its General Conference legislative meeting.

The church currently affirms gays and lesbians as "persons of sacred worth" but says it cannot "condone" homosexual behavior because it is "incompatible with Christian teaching."

The Methodists' General Board of Church and Society met in Herndon, Virginia, March 20-23 and voted to ask delegates to change the policy. The proposed language says that "although faithful Christians disagree on the compatibility of homosexual practice with Christian teaching, we affirm that God's grace is available to all."

An alternative motion that would have left the current language intact and imposed a moratorium on the gay debate failed in a vote of 19-13. The church's current statement on the subject was upheld by delegates to the 2000 General Conference by two-to-one margins.

Meanwhile, a lesbian United Methodist pastor who won two earlier court cases will now face trial in the church's highest court. Charges were first brought against Karen Dammann in 2001 after she admitted to her bishop that she was living in a lesbian relationship. Elias Galvan, the bishop of Seattle, reluctantly filed charges.

Two lower panels ruled in favor of Dammann, saying there was not enough evidence to warrant a trial. Galvan said he would appeal the decision to the church's Judicial Council because the case holds implications for the larger church. "This case hinges on several passages from the Book of Discipline that have never been tested and interpreted," Galvan said, referring to the church constitution. "It is important to follow the process all the way to the Judicial Council to clarify the meaning and application of these passages."

The court will hear the ease when it meets April 26-27. Although Dammann remains a pastor in good standing with Galvan's office, she is now living with her partner and son in Amherst, Massachusetts.--RNS