Scores of United Methodist clergy of Minnesota signed a statement in defiance of the denomination's Book of Discipline pledging to perform homosexual "marriages;" such action could result in being defrocked.
Read related previous article: D.C. Homosexualist 'Pastor' Dares Methodist Church to Defrock Her
UPDATE 6/26/11: 100 Methodist pastors in New England pledge to "marry" homosexuals
-- From "40 United Methodist Clergy Pledge To Marry Gay Couples" by Jim Maurice, AM 1240 WJON (St. Cloud, MN) 6/2/11
Reverend Bruce Robbins of the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis read the statement yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon. He said he initially had about a dozen of his colleagues sign the statement, by last night that number had grown to 40. The statement was a voluntary action and not a part of the annual conference.
Meanwhile, Bishop Sally Dyck says the statement itself does not break church rules. However, she says the church discipline does forbid same-sex marriage, and clergy who perform them could lose their conference membership, or clergy credentials. Robbins says that won’t stop him from performing the ceremonies.
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From "40 Methodist clergy members support gay marriage" by Rose French, Minneapolis Star Tribune 6/2/11
"Groups have been meeting who want to challenge parts of the United Methodist polity with which we disagree -- that which relates to the lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual community and Christian marriage," said the Rev. Bruce Robbins, who serves at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis.
"With the possibility of a constitutional amendment in the state of Minnesota [defining marriage as limited to heterosexual couples], this seems important."
About 900 voting members -- half of whom are clergy and half laypeople -- attend the annual conference, which this year meets from Wednesday to Friday. About 75,000 members worship in 365 United Methodist churches statewide.
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From "70 Methodist Clergy Agree to Wed Gay Couples" by Elena Garcia, Christian Post Reporter 6/3/11
The United Methodist Church holds that homosexual practice is incompatible with Christian teaching. The denomination affirmed its stance at its latest legislative meeting in 2008 despite calls by some to change the body’s constitution.
In 2009, UMC’s top court also ruled that clergy, active and retired, cannot perform same-sex marriages or civil unions. The ruling came after more than 80 retired clergy from northern California said they would conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies on behalf of clergy who cannot perform them.
Under the 2008 Book of Discipline, same-sex unions are not to be conducted by United Methodist ministers or in its churches. Clergy who are convicted of officiating a homosexual union would face revocation of conference membership or clergy credentials.
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Also read Allah Worshiped in Virginia Methodist Church
