Methodists to Reinstate Defrocked Minister

[CBGLuthier]

LINTHICUM, Md. - The United Methodist Church reversed itself Friday, deciding to reinstate a lesbian minister who was defrocked after revealing her relationship with another woman.



A church panel voted 8 to 1 to set aside an earlier decision to defrock Irene "Beth" Stroud for violating the church's ban on openly gay clergy.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050429/ap_on_re_us/methodist_gays

[progmom]

1. good. this gives me hope.

I spent a lot of time talking to my (Methodist) minister about this when it was going on. He was as incensed about it as I was...which is why I didn't leave the church over it.

[efhmc]

2. Tiny step by tiny step, progress is made.

[Ysolde]

3. Maybe moderates are waking up?

I hope so. I was raised in a Methodist church before moving to a Pentecostal one (boyfriend's church) and then on to agnosticism and now to Episcopalian (kids need a foundation to steel them against the Fundies here). I was so disappointed when the Methodists did this that I swore I would never let my kids go to that church. Now, I might re-consider.

I hope the moderates in the faith communities are waking up to realize that they are complicit in all that is going on unless they speak out against it.

[movie_girl99]

4. i just read this and was about to post it

This is at least a small step on their behalf. It gives me hope.

[supernova]

5. Good news

:-) Thanks for that.

This gives me hope for my denom (Presby), that we will also ordain gays who hear the call to serve. Soon.

[davidinalameda]

6. whoo hoo!!!!

good for them

and maybe the fundie Methodists will take their toys and go home!

[Rainscents]

7. I belong to this Church and I am glad to hear they are doing the right

thing... Thank You Methodist!!!

[DanCa]

8. good call

This means that the Episcopal Church and the Methodist have gay clergy are there other denominitions? It's nice to know that people are finaly starting to reliaze that god doesn't descriminate based on orientation.

[libnnc]

9. HOLY MOLY!! This is awesome news!!!

OMG! I've been following this case off and on at her website www.bethstroud.info I can't believe this!!

Wow...:wow:

Guess this Methodist lesbian will have to get back to church. :bounce:

[libnnc]

10. and here's what the UMC says on its website

Appeals committee reverses church trial verdict in Stroud case

Irene Elizabeth "Beth" Stroud, who was found guilty of violating United Methodist church law and had her clergy credentials withdrawn last December, won her appeal in a decision announced April 29.

Stroud had appealed the clergy court’s Dec. 2 decision to the Northeastern Jurisdictional Committee on Appeals, which met at a hotel near the Baltimore-Washington International Airport April 28-29.
<snip> more

The appeals committee upheld part of the trial court’s finding but overturned the verdict based on legal error. The committee’s 8-1 vote means Stroud is automatically reinstated as a pastor.

"The verdict and the penalty are reversed and set aside," the committee said in its ruling.<snip>

http://www.news.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.617879/k.DED2/Appeals_committee_reverses_church_trial_verdict_in_Stroud_case.htm




http://www.umc.org/

[NNN0LHI]

11. Methodist Appeals Panel Reinstates Defrocked Lesbian Minister

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBQWJBX48E.html

LINTHICUM, Md. (AP) - A Methodist court Friday reinstated a gay minister who had been defrocked for declaring to her congregation that she was in a relationship with another woman.

The United Methodist Church appeals panel voted 8 to 1 to set aside the December decision by another church court to oust Irene "Beth" Stroud for violating the denomination's ban on "self-avowed, practicing homosexual" clergy.

The panel said the ban was "null and void" because the church procedures were not followed when it was adopted. However, Jim Allen, general counsel for the church's finance and administration agency, said the opinion would have to be endorsed by the highest Methodist court, the Judicial Council, before it became church law.

The ruling was sure to inflame traditional Methodists who have been outraged that church leaders haven't done more to enforce the ban on actively gay clergy. The church is expected to appeal the decision to the Judicial Council.

moreIsn't Boosh a Methodist?

[Tempest]

12. Bush is a southern baptist

His church sent him a letter opposing the Iraq war.

[ahem]

14. No, he is a Methodist.

Though he doesn't seem like it. Here's a reference from the whitehouse website:

"I am Methodist and my wife is a Methodist."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/11/20031114-2.html

[Tempest]

15. During the campaign he gave the name of the church he went to

And it was a southern baptist church.

Hmmm... I wonder if he was lying.

[XemaSab]

13. I like the words

"practicing lesbian."

Hey, some things take practice before ya get em right, ya know?

:evilgrin: