Lesbian Methodist minister from Ellensburg remains in limbo /Seattle P-I

[icymist]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/171961_dammann05.html



Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Lesbian Methodist minister from Ellensburg remains in limbo
Methodist court issues conflicting rulings

By SAM SKOLNIK
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

A series of conflicting rulings yesterday from the United Methodist Court did not answer the question of whether a lesbian pastor from Ellensburg who recently faced trial for her sexuality can remain in the ministry.

The court, meeting in the midst of the Methodist General Conference in Pittsburgh, ruled that it did not have the authority to review the March acquittal of the Rev. Karen Dammann, who was tried in Bothell by a church court.

Other rulings, however, may put Dammann's reappointment at risk. Perhaps the most significant decision yesterday concluded that in future cases, bishops could no longer legally appoint a minister found at church proceedings to be a "self-avowed, practicing homosexual."

(more)

[harrison]

1. However, practicing self-avowed gluttons are allowed to

be United Methodist ministers, as are practicing self-avowed racists, as are practicing self-avowed lusters, as are practicing self-avowed greedy people, and on an on.

Since the UMC sees practicing homosexuality as a sin, then what about these other sins? Don't get me wrong, I don't see being gay as a sin, I am merely showing the inconsistency in church polity. There is more than just one sin in the eyes of the church. Why focus on this one?

I am disapointed in the UMC. UMC congregations have a certain amount of autonomy. If a certain congregation didn't want a gay pastor, then they could refuse them.

Why not let reconciling congregations accept gay pastors, and other congregations refuse them? That is a way that it could be acceptable, but like every other denomination, the UMC has a conservative element that seeks to freeze people out.