LGBTQ Advocates Reaffirm Ongoing Support

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Against a backdrop of national news regarding LGBTQ+ people’s civil rights, United Methodist advocates for their full inclusion in the church issued statements before and after the United Methodist Judicial Council’s Oct. 25-27 session affirming their ongoing support despite adverse rulings and a cloak of secrecy around a possible “way forward” for the denomination. Following are excerpts from press releases and news reports.

From Reconciling Ministries Network:

“In this particular set of rulings released from the October docket, the Judicial Council has declared the following:“Constitutional challenge on ‘incompatible with Christian Teaching’ - In separate actions, both the Denmark Conference and the California-Pacific Annual Conference asked a question regarding the constitutionality of the ‘incompatible with Christian teaching’ language in the Book of Discipline. The Judicial Council regarded the question itself outside of the authority of the Conference to ask and did not rule on it, thus the language stands.“Ruling of law in Baltimore-Washington - The Council affirmed the ruling of law from Bishop LaTrelle Easterling of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference which declared that a clergy session cannot vote on a candidate for ministry that the Board of Ordained Ministry (BoOM) has not put forward for that annual conference session.“Ruling of law in Iowa - The Council also affirmed the ruling of Bishop Laurie Haller in the Iowa Annual Conference who argued that it was not within her authority to reopen the complaint process completed by a prior Bishop against Rev. Anna Blaedel for being a ‘self-avowed practicing homosexual.’“Rev. Anna Blaedel reflected on the ruling by saying, ‘I am relieved to have this dehumanizing, disempowering process resolved, for now. However, I proudly remain a “self-avowed, practicing homosexual.” I delight in my queerness, and my relationship with my beloved. I lament the use of loopholes to hide any aspect of queer life and love. Queer and trans people are sacred, holy, and fully compatible with Jesus's teachings, ministry, and witness. Any practice, policy, loophole, or ruling that suggests otherwise is harmful and incompatible with God's kin-dom.’“Jan Lawrence, Interim Executive Director of RMN, expressed gratitude that the Judicial Council affirmed the ruling in Iowa. She also said, ‘We rejoice that the Rev. Anna Blaedel no longer has the threat of a complaint being reopened hanging over their head. While we celebrate with Anna, we are also saddened that the Judicial Council did not take up the constitutionality of “incompatible with Christian teaching” question asked by Denmark and CalPac, and that the Judicial Council affirmed the ruling in Baltimore-Washington. It is disappointing that the church so faithfully served by LGBTQ United Methodists continues to do harm through its judicial council rulings.’“[The subject of the Baltimore-Washington case] T.C. Morrow, reflected on the rulings, ‘In continuing to respond to God’s call on our lives, my LGBTQ siblings and I follow Christ into all corners of the world and seek to encourage others to do the same.’ Lawrence also added that, ‘It is the ministry of those who refuse to be denied their calling, like Rev. Anna Blaedel and T.C. Morrow, that inspires us to do the work that we do for affirmation and justice in the church.’“As always, the impact of the Judicial Council rulings remains in the hands of United Methodists across the connection. There is no way to simply receive and obey the laws of the church and remain faithful to the way of Jesus Christ as long as discrimination is embedded within the United Methodist Book of Discipline. It is the responsibility of each individual, church, board, and committee to decide how to be in ministry with all people according to Christ’s way of justice and liberation.“Though the church may attempt to “prevent” full inclusion through rulings and legislation, our faithfulness will prevent us from abiding by any rules that destroy! We carry on together in the work of freeing our church from prejudice and its LGBTQ members from being ruled upon as objects of law. We celebrate LGBTQ lives and loves and all who labor for the day when the church does the same.”

“There is no way to simply receive and obey the laws of the church and remain faithful to the way of Jesus Christ as long as discrimination is embedded within the United Methodist Book of Discipline.” – Jan Lawrence, interim executive director, Reconciling Ministries Network

From the United Methodist Queer Clergy Caucus:

“On the heels of its leadership team meeting in which the United Methodist

Queer Clergy Caucus (UMQCC) named its core values and vision for the

Church, the LGBTQAI+ clergy this week established a full agenda to reach

across the denominational connection to work toward a fully just and vibrant

future.

“ ’As trained clergy, our theological, biblical, spiritual and Wesleyan grounding

gives us the location to be pastoral, to be teachers, and to be prophetic

preachers,” says Rev. Dr. Israel Alvaran of San Francisco, an elder ordained

in the Philippines Annual Conference. ‘We claim our role in the local settings

where we are serving, even as we also understand our role in the

larger Church – a Church that we believe needs our dream of a faith

community that is whole and just.’

“… The Caucus, whose core values embody Divine inspiration and insist on

honoring God’s call on humanity, says it is striving for “collective wholeness”

in the Body of Christ and the Church it serves.

“ ‘It’s disappointing that the Council declined to rule on the unconstitutionality

of the so-called ‘incompatibility clause’ that has been harming LGBTQAI+

people for nearly 45 years,’ said the Rev. Dr. Althea Spencer Miller, assistant

professor of New Testament at Drew Theological School in New Jersey. ‘But

we know the truth that God’s created people are never incompatible with the

Gospel and we expect that the denomination that has nurtured us and taught us about God’s forgiving love will one day repent of its 45 years of damaging doctrinal abusive power.’”

“… Rev. Lindsey Kerr, who is on the UMQCC leadership team and serves Christ

Church and First UMC, both in Santa Rosa, CA, says First UMC served as a

refuge center during the recent wildfires, in which many families from both

churches lost their homes. ‘Once again the institution prioritizes its own

discipline above its mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the

transformation of the world,’ said Rev. Kerr. ‘The Church, however, is yet alive.

The Church continues to witness to God’s grace, as it has and does in the

midst of Santa Rosa’s trauma and grief. I have hope that one day the

institution will remember to act as the Church, and in the meantime, like

others who have been called, I will simply continue to serve.’ ”

The caucus also said it invited members of the Judicial Council to join with their representatives in holy communion, but that the council declined.

Prior to the Judicial Council meeting, two prominent congregations advocating full LGBTQ+ inclusion issued statements of continuing support.

From Union UMC in Boston, Mass.:

“On Sunday, Oct. 22, at its 8 and 11 am services, Boston’s Union United Methodist Church is celebrating October as LGBTQ Month as well as recognition of its history as one of the first predominantly-African American Reconciling Congregations in United Methodism to fully accept LGBTQ persons. The celebration comes at the very moment the denomination’s Council of Bishops has created a Commission on a Way Forward to resolve a crisis over its position on ‘human sexuality’ – specifically over the Church’s decades-old doctrine that ‘homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching,’ which is now threatening a Church-wide schism.

“The minister of Union Church, Rev. Dr. William Bobby McClain, is back as Interim Senior Pastor of Union Church, having served as Union’s minister from 1968-1978. He is creating a notable reunion of sorts in inviting Rev. William Alberts, Ph.D., to preach the sermon at the 8 and 11 am services – the title of which is “The Real Way Forward.”

Excerpts from Rev. Alberts’ sermon:

“FIRST, The Church needs to deal head-on with its own hypocrisy. United Methodism provides a classic example of how a Christian denomination can profess inclusion and love while practicing exclusion and loathing – with a straight face.

“… SECOND, the Bishops’ Commission on A Way Forward should avoid the moral equivalency dynamic. The threat of schism facing the General Conference in 2016 was interpreted by some delegates as being caused by unyielding ‘liberals,’ who are bent on full inclusion of LGBTQ persons, and by adamant ‘conservatives’ who demand that The Church adhere to The Book of Discipline’s position on homosexuality, which is rooted in The Bible and can never been changed.

“In the moral equivalency dynamic, the issue of right and wrong magically disappears and is redefined as an issue between ‘left’ and ‘right,’ or in this case ‘liberals’ and ‘conservatives.’ Like racist President Trump saying that the white supremacist violence in Charlottesville was caused by ‘both sides.’

“ ’Love your neighbor as yourself’ is not about ‘liberals’ and ‘conservatives,’ but about right and wrong.

“THIRD, a word of caution to the Bishops’ Commission on a Way Forward about having every Conference in the denomination participate in what is called ‘Praying Our Way Forward’ as part of the effort to resolve the split over ‘human sexuality.’

“Jesus taught that the two greatest commandments are to love God ‘with your whole heart’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ Those two commandments have been around since the beginning of Christianity. So, in the face of The Church’s long-held discrimination against LGBTQ neighbors, what god have United Methodists been praying to all these decades?”

From Foundry UMC in Washington, D.C.:

“Foundry UMC is a strong advocate for full inclusion of LGBTQ persons in all levels of the church. During worship on October 22, the Rev. Ginger Gaines­Cirelli, senior pastor, read the following statement that re­affirms Foundry Church’s commitment to advocacy for the full inclusion of LGBTQ persons and their families in the life and ministry of The United Methodist Church.

“Members of the congregation and other supporters of LGBTQ equality and inclusion were invited to add their names and more than 500 people have done so:

"In light of both the Special General Conference in 2019 and this week’s Judicial Council meeting which will consider matters related to the ordination, appointment, and service of LGBTQ persons in The United Methodist Church: We reassert our commitment as a congregation to advocate for the full inclusion and equity of all people. We name as incompatible with Christian teaching the discriminatory policies which criminalize ministry with LGBTQ persons and their families, particularly through the rite of Holy Marriage, and the blanket rejection of LGBTQ persons who are called and gifted for ordained ministry. We call upon the leadership of The United Methodist Church at all levels to remove all discriminatory language from the Book of Discipline and unequivocally affirm ministry to and with LGBTQ persons through marriage and ordination."

“We name as incompatible with Christian teaching the discriminatory policies which criminalize ministry with LGBTQ persons and their families, particularly through the rite of Holy Marriage, and the blanket rejection of LGBTQ persons who are called and gifted for ordained ministry.” – Foundry UMC Statement

Beyond denominational actions, two public actions regarding LGBTQ people were reported on Oct. 30:

From National Public Radio:

“… A U.S. district judge in Washington, D.C., decided on Monday [Oct. 30] that trans members of the military have a strong case that the president's ban would violate their Fifth Amendment rights. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly granted a preliminary injunction to keep the policy from going into effect while the court case moves forward.

“As a result of her injunction, the military policy on transgender service members will ‘revert to the status quo,’ Kollar-Kotelly writes — that is, the policy that was in place before Trump's announcement. That policy allowed trans members currently in the military to serve openly and for openly trans people to be admitted to serve in the future.”

From the Religious Institute, an interfaith think tank on sexual ethics:

“WASHINGTON—Nearly 1,300 clergy and faith leaders representing half a million congregants from approximately 50 unique faith traditions across the U.S. joined together today to send a clear message that businesses open to the public must serve all. The clergy filed a friend-of-the-court brief to the Supreme Court in the Masterpiece Cakeshop vs. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case.

“At the heart of the Masterpiece case is the question of whether non-discrimination laws can continue to be enforced without sweeping and dangerous exemptions. The case involves a Colorado bakery that refused to sell a cake to a same-sex couple celebrating their civil marriage. This action was in direct violation of Colorado’s non-discrimination law, and both the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the state appellate court ruled in favor of the couple.

“The brief filed today highlights the dangers of the exemptions being sought in this case and makes the argument that there should not be a license to discriminate based on faith. The brief states, in part:

“ ‘It is both morally wrong and not constitutionally required to permit blanket discrimination in the public marketplace for goods and services based on the personal religious beliefs of merchants with respect to same-sex couples’ rights and relationships. Amici believe that, to the contrary, public accommodation laws should be applied on the basis of religiously neutral principles of equal protection under the law.’ ”

“… More than 85 national religious leaders signed the brief including the leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Metropolitan Community Church, the Alliance of Baptists, Muslims for Progressive Values, and Reconstructionist Judaism. The presidents of ten seminaries and the leaders of 40 religious organizations also signed the brief.”