UMNS Photo by Sam Hodges
Dallas Wedding
The Rev. William K. McElvaney (seated), 85, conducts a religious wedding ceremony for George Harris, 80, and Jack Evans, 84, at a Disciples of Christ church in Dallas on March 1. Messrs. Harris and Evans are members of Northaven United Methodist Church in Dallas and have been together as a couple for 53 years.
A complaint has been filed in the North Texas Annual Conference against the Rev. Bill McElvaney, retired pastor, scholar, author and social activist, for officiating at the wedding of two gay men on March 1.
Former president of Saint Paul School of Theology and LeVan Professor of Preaching Emeritus at Perkins School of Theology, Dr. McElvaney issued the following statement March 20 through Northaven United Methodist Church, where he and his wife Frances currently attend:
On March 7 I received a letter from Bishop Michael McKee notifying me that a complaint had been filed by Reverend Camille Gaston in regard to my conducting a same sex wedding service on March 1. The UM Discipline calls for a supervisory response from the bishop. This response is intended to be pastoral and administrative, directed toward a just resolution between the parties.
The bishop will set a date soon for this meeting involving the bishop, Rev. Gaston, me, and a person of my choice. The bishop's letter also informed me that he is suspending me from all clergy responsibilities for a period not to exceed 90 days beginning March 7. The decisions by Bishop McKee are all according to rules established in the UM Book of Discipline.
As this process unfolds, I will keep Northaven informed. There are a number of possibilities that may arise from these developments. This first step involves no legal counsel or judicial procedure. I would like to ask Northaven members to hold the bishop, the complainant and me in your prayerful concerns as this process unfolds. I encourage no other response to the bishop's letter at this time
God's Peace,
Bill McElvaney
Dr. McElvaney officiated March 1 at a religious wedding ceremony for a gay couple, George Harris and Jack Evans, members of Northaven UMC who have been in a committed relationship for 53 years. Same-sex marriage isn't legal in Texas, but Dr. McElvaney announced earlier this year that he was willing to lead a religious ceremony in protest of The United Methodist Church's stance against same-gender unions. The ceremony was held at Midway Hills Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a denomination that fully accepts LGBT people. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of North Texas United Methodists, including more than a dozen clergy.
The complainant, the Rev. Camille Gaston, is superintendent of the Metro District of the North Texas Conference, where Northaven UMC is located. Dr. McElvaney comes under Rev. Gaston's supervision as retired clergy associated with Northaven church.
Northaven UMC is one of four North Texas United Methodist congregations that openly welcome LGBT people, their families and friends, as part of the Reconciling Ministries Network. The other churches are Grace UMC and Greenland Hills UMC in Dallas and St. Stephen UMC in Mesquite, a Dallas suburb. (Full disclosure: Dr. McElvaney was the founding pastor of St. Stephen UMC in 1959, and St. Stephen sponsors United Methodist Insight).
Cynthia B. Astle is the project coordinator for United Methodist Insight.