Debate on same-sex unions revived

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20111009/NEWS01/710099921/0#debate-on-same-sex-unions-revived

Published Sunday October 9, 2011

By Christopher Burbach
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Photo: http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20111009&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=710099921&Ref=AR&Profile=1009&maxw=490&maxh=275
Jimmy Creech's support for same-sex unions in the 1990s led to a split in his former church, First United Methodist, and removal of his credentials. He returns to speak Tuesday at an interfaith National Coming Out Day Rally at the church.


It has been more than a decade since then-Rev. Jimmy Creech made Nebraska a focus in the American culture wars by performing same-sex union ceremonies that eventually led to the stripping of his credentials as a Methodist minister.

Now, debates over United Methodist Church rules regarding homosexuality are heating up again. More than 900 Methodist pastors around the country have pledged to perform same-sex marriages or holy union ceremonies in defiance of church rules. In response, more than 2,000 Methodist pastors have signed a letter demanding that bishops enforce related rules.

It is against this backdrop that Creech returns to Omaha Tuesday to speak at his former church, First United Methodist, at a National Coming Out Day Rally. His return is once again creating a local flash point in the national debate.

Creech, 66, who has continued to be an activist on gay marriage and related issues, is to speak during an interfaith rally scheduled for 7 p.m. on the lawn of First United Methodist, 70th and Cass Streets. He plans to advocate same-sex marriage in churches in the context of "the inclusive love of God for all of God's people," and to decry what he calls church persecution of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, he said Friday from his home in North Carolina.

He'll also sign and sell copies of his book, "Adam's Gift: Memoir of a Pastor's Calling to Defy the Church's Persecution of Lesbians and Gays."

FULL story at link.

[yardwork]

1. Thanks, Steve. You are good guy.

[Bluenorthwest]

2. Most excellent story

nt

[MNBrewer]

3. The United Methodist Church will schism over this

count on it.

[DURHAM D]

5. Maybe they will split in a natural way -

The Methodist Church and the Southern Methodist Church - much like the Baptist Church split creating the Southern Baptist Church over the issue of slavery.

Someone should go ahead and create a wiki entry.

[William769]

4. K&R.