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United Methodist church elects first openly gay bishop despite marriage ban
Source: The Guardian and agencies
United Methodist church elects first openly gay bishop despite marriage ban
• Reverend Karen Oliveto was one of three gay clerics nominated
• Evangelicals within church say election could lead ‘to the brink of schism
Martin Pengelly and agencies
Saturday 16 July 2016 15.43 BST
The western district of the United Methodist church (UMC) elected an openly gay bishop on Friday, despite its ban on same-sex relationships. The Reverend Karen Oliveto was elected late in the evening at a meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, of the church’s Western Jurisdiction.
In remarks published on the UMC website, Oliveto said: “Today we took a step closer to embody beloved community and while we may be moving there, we are not there yet. We are moving on to perfection.”
The president of the UMC’s council of bishops said the election raised “significant concerns and questions of church polity and unity”. The leader of an evangelical group within the church said the result could lead “to the brink of schism”.
Oliveto, 58, and one of three gay clerics nominated to become bishops in US elections this week, is pastor of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco, which describes itself as “a radically inclusive, just and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization”.
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• Reverend Karen Oliveto was one of three gay clerics nominated
• Evangelicals within church say election could lead ‘to the brink of schism
Martin Pengelly and agencies
Saturday 16 July 2016 15.43 BST
The western district of the United Methodist church (UMC) elected an openly gay bishop on Friday, despite its ban on same-sex relationships. The Reverend Karen Oliveto was elected late in the evening at a meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, of the church’s Western Jurisdiction.
In remarks published on the UMC website, Oliveto said: “Today we took a step closer to embody beloved community and while we may be moving there, we are not there yet. We are moving on to perfection.”
The president of the UMC’s council of bishops said the election raised “significant concerns and questions of church polity and unity”. The leader of an evangelical group within the church said the result could lead “to the brink of schism”.
Oliveto, 58, and one of three gay clerics nominated to become bishops in US elections this week, is pastor of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco, which describes itself as “a radically inclusive, just and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization”.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/16/united-methodist-church-first-openly-gay-bishop
