Lesbian Minister's Credentials Revoked

[ChicanoPwr]

Lesbian Minister's Credentials Revoked
Methodists Enforce Ban on Practicing Homosexual Clergy 12/03/04
By Alan Cooperman
Washington Post Staff Writer

A jury of Methodist ministers yesterday expelled a Pennsylvania woman from the Methodist clergy after convicting her of breaking church law by living openly as a lesbian.

Following a two-day ecclesiastical trial, the jury voted 12 to 1 to find the Rev. Irene Elizabeth Stroud, 34, guilty of violating the United Methodist Church's ban on "self-avowed practicing" homosexuals in the clergy.

By a 7 to 6 vote, the jury then revoked Stroud's credentials as a minister. The liberal congregation in Philadelphia, where she has served as an associate pastor since 1999, has offered to employ her as a lay associate. But she will no longer be able to administer the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion.

Stroud, who had urged supporters not to regard the church as an enemy, hugged each member of the jury after the penalty was announced.

"I did not go into this trial expecting to win," she told reporters as she held back tears. "I went into it knowing that it would be a painful moment in the life of the United Methodist Church. . . . I am hopeful that in time, and that through God's spirit, the United Methodist Church will change its Discipline."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29826-2004Dec2.html

[Maat]

1. She needs to publicly withdraw from the church..

as far as I'm concerned.

And go pastor for a truly progressive and inclusive church, such as Unitarian-Universalist, the United Church of Christ, or the Church of Religious Science.

Progressives need to loudly point this kind of discriminatory behavior, and the alternatives.

[Bono71]

3. Agree... there are churches that are more progressive...and

I disagree with what the methodist church is doing here...but if they are following their religion (peacefully) I really don't have a huge problem with it (though I wouldn't be Methodist).

[underpants]

2. So it would have been okay if she lied?

Oh there is no Commandment EXPLICITLY against lying I forgot.

[Moderator]

4. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1039242