Church Packed For Gay Apology

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon05/11/112105minnChurch.htm

About 1,500 people filled a Minneapolis church on Sunday to hear the pastor apologize for the denomination's treatment of gays and lesbians.

The reconciling service was held at the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, the largest Methodist church in the state.

Rev. Bruce Robbins, the church's senior pastor said he planned the service as a protest over two decisions by the Judicial Council, the denomination's version of the Supreme Court.

Last month, the Council voted to defrock Rev. Beth Stroud a Philadelphia area pastor who came out to her congregation and said she was in a long-term relationship with another woman. (story) The Council also voted to reinstate Virginia minister Rev. Ed Johnson Johnson, who had been suspended for denying a gay man membership to his church.

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. "I'm sorry Mother Church beat up my sister"

What I see here is a child apologizing to onlookers because his mother beat up his sister in the park. Rev. Robbins is not the one who needs to apologize, nor is he the one who should be reaching out in reconciliation.

[davidinalameda]

2. it's a bit more than that

it's sort of an uncle apologizing to the children for the actions of the grandparent, to play along with your analogy

Rev. Robbins is a minister in the church and he's well within his rights to apologize to his congregation for the actions of the church leadership

it's guilt by association--if he stood silent, or issued some sort of half-assed apology, then he probably would have lost members

this way, he reassures the congregation that the church leadership does not speak for him