Minnesota Layman Urges Prayers in West Ohio Gay Pastor's Case

Also a Way Forward Commissioner, Dave Nuckols Says His Plea Is Personal

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In what he describes as a personal gesture, United Methodist layman Dave Nuckols has issued an open letter to the West Ohio Annual Conference pleading for deep prayers about its response to charges brought against the Rev David Meredith, a United Methodist pastor in a same-sex marriage.

Rev. Meredith is awaiting a decision on three charges brought against him for violating United Methodist law relating to his legal marriage to James Schlacter. Committed to one another for 29 years, Rev. Meredith and Mr. Schlacter formalized their union with a legal marriage on May 7, 2016. Rev. Meredith was a candidate for bishop in the North Central Jurisdiction in 2016, and his online biography lists Mr. Schlacter as his spouse.

A member of the Commission on A Way Forward and a leader in the Dakotas-Minnesota Annual Conference, Mr. Nuckols posted his open letter online via his Facebook account late on Thursday, Oct. 12. He introduced the letter thus:

"Re: healing and reconciliation within the UMC. Following sleepless nights and a lot of prayer, I've sent an open letter to the West Ohio Annual Conference concerning this need my fear it is threatened by the prosecution of Rev. David W. Meredith. The short version is this:

"Dear West Ohio UMC – Prosecute less. Pray more.

"Note: these are my personal opinions as I do not speak on behalf of any group. These opinions are informed by my various roles as church leader (Minnesota Annual Conference Co-Lay Leader, Connectional Table Treasurer), activist (Reconciling Ministries Network), unifier (Uniting Methodists Movement) and parent of a queer daughter. Unity will come from peace and reconciliation; it will not come from win-lose church trials."

Asked by United Methodist Insight whether he had received any reaction from his fellow Way Forward commissioners, Mr. Nuckols replied by email stressing that he views his letter as a personal gesture from one conference leader to others in a neighboring conference. Dakotas-Minnesota and West Ohio are both part of the North Central Jurisdiction in the United States. 

"[The letter is] certainly informed by my Commission on the Way Forward experience, but it is written more as a conference lay leader," he said in his email message. "I haven't heard from anyone beyond whatever likes or comments are on Facebook. I didn't ask for anyone's opinion on the letter beforehand."

While no formal response to Mr. Nuckols' letter had been received by Insight's weekly deadline, West Ohio communications director Kay Panovec posted a response on Mr. Nuckols' Facebook page:

"Dave, We acknowledge that there is care and concern for the people involved and we share in that," she wrote. "Prayer is indeed part of this process."

Mr. Nuckols addressed his letter to Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, episcopal leader of the Ohio West Area, and to the Rev. Amy Aspey as conference secretary, and to Ms. Panovec, asking that they forward it to other interested parties in the conference. (Rev. Aspey has been succeeded as conference secretary by the Rev. Amy Palmer Haines, according to a correction posted on Facebook).

Mr. Nuckols' letter reads:

"Dear Siblings in Christ,

"I write today to ask please for your prayers for the West Ohio Annual Conference, for all individuals swept up in the complaint and judicial processes targeting Rev. David Meredith and for the unity of the United Methodist Church. Please consider my personal perspective on how the proceedings against Rev. Meredith … (1) are harming the UMC in ways that are likely worsen if judicial actions escalate, (2) are contrary to the will of the 2016 General Conference, and (3) will undermine of the work and recommendations of the Commission on a Way Forward. Allow me please to explain:

"As a member of the commission, I’ve been the recipient of your prayers and of the prayers of our entire global connection. It has been both humbling and inspiring. Your prayers are working as we have come together very well and forged strong relationships and trust across a group as diverse as the UMC itself. As we engage in holy conferencing, I feel we are making good progress towards the challenging task given to us by the Council of Bishops in response to the request of General Conference. Their charter calls for us to maintain unity even as we remain of different opinions concerning homosexuality; it calls for us to focus on our much more common ground in Christ and United Methodism; and it very practically calls for contextual differentiation that will allow greater missional success in our widely different mission fields.

"I have been asked to speak to many groups across the ideological spectrum and across the globe. It is an honor to receive the stories and hopes of so many United Methodists. My message to them has stressed that each of us – not just the commission but the whole church – has a role to play in restoring unity and trust and in renewing our focus on our shared mission to make disciples of Christ and transform the world. There is healing to be done each annual conference and in many of our local churches. That healing should be pursued earnestly throughout 2017 and 2018 and not merely await on the verdict of the special General Conference in February 2019. Prayer is the foundation and interpersonal reconciliation comprise the supporting joists and rafters of this healing process.

"So please know that I hold you all tenderly when I say that your efforts in support of the Praying Our Way Forward Initiative have been a huge boost to our efforts on the commission, and yet win-lose judicial processes undermine the healing that needs to take place. I urge you to find a just resolution with the parties involved and, regardless of how the litigants may respond, I urge you to dismiss or suspend the litigation as a just resolution in the best interest of the church. To be clear, I think the Commission on Way Forward will continue its good work no matter how the judicial process plays out in West Ohio. But my great fear is that further judicial steps in West Ohio will result in escalating conflict between United Methodists that undermines our ability to reconcile and negative publicity that undermines our Christian witness to the world.

"Remember that we approached the brink of schism at our last General Conference, and the delegates there rejected that approach, pressed the pause button on sexuality-related legislation and asked the whole church to pray while the Council of Bishops and a newly appointed commission could discern a better way forward.

"Please note: I’m writing today as an individual member of four official UMC bodies: as Conference Co-Lay Leader of the Minnesota Annual Conference, as a member of Minnesota’s delegation to GC2016 and GC2019, as Treasurer of the Connectional Table and as a Member of the Commission on a Way Forward. I’ve also labored as an advocate for full inclusion of LGBTQ persons via Reconciling Ministries Network and for the unity of our church through the formation of the Uniting Methodists Movement. I am speaking only for myself and not on behalf of any these six groups. I write after spending much time this week in prayer about whether and how to speak publicly at this time. Please know that I will continue to pray for you all in the West Ohio Annual Conference.

"Thank you West Ohio UMC for considering this plea and invitation to prayer. ...

"Yours in Christ, Dave Nuckols"

Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.