Lesbian Minister on Trial

[huajiro]

"Not guilty!!!"

http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=9&id=2589

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/12/02/methodists.gays.ap/index.html

http://www.washblade.com/2004/3-26/news/national/pastor.cfm

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040318/news_1n18church.html

 

[Lightkeeper]

This took place in my state. She was found not guilty, but did not go back to her church. She is taking time off.

 

[Davidium]

This took place in my state. She was found not guilty, but did not go back to her church. She is taking time off.

I wish that were true, but unfortunately it is not. She was convicted, and then Defrocked. It is an atrocity, in my most humble opinion.

Methodist Church Defrocks Lesbian Minister

1 minute ago
Top Stories - AP


By RICHARD N. OSTLING, AP Religion Writer

PUGHTOWN, Pa. - The United Methodist Church defrocked a lesbian minister who lives with her partner Thursday for violating the denomination's ban on actively gay clergy — the first such decision by the church in 17 years.


AP Photo

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A 13-member jury made up of Methodist clergy convicted the Rev. Irene Elizabeth Stroud on the second day of her church trial. Methodist law bars "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals" from ministry. Nine votes were necessary for a conviction and the jury voted 12-1 to find Stroud guilty.

It then voted 7-6 to defrock Stroud, the bare majority necessary in the penalty phase of the trial, though her supportive congregation in Philadelphia has said Stroud can continue performing most of her duties.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=5&u=/ap/20041203/ap_on_re_us/methodists_gays
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=5&u=/ap/20041203/ap_on_re_us/methodists_gays

I would like to say that, if the Methodists do not want her, then I am sure that the Unitarian Universalist Association would be proud to accept her, and would probably even be willing to, after completing the fellowship requirements, name her a minister in the UUA. I would be willing to work within the UUA to make this happen, and I just sent her an email telling her so.

I am heterosexual, but acts of such inequality infuriate me. By all reports she was an excellent minister. I hope to be a UU Minister someday. Many of our best Ministers are homosexual, and we are a stronger denomination for it.

Letting her remain defroked would be a travesty.

Reason and Respect.... and above all else equality.....

David Pyle

 

[Davidium]

I now see there were two lesbian ministers on trial by the Methodists today. One was found not guilty, but Rev. Stroud was convicted and defrocked....

Reason and Respect,

David

 

[Scott1]

David,

I don't know if you saw this..... you're not gonna like it:

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=6980825

 

[robtex]

How sad. This really got to me. It would be great to find this woman's email addy and maybe send her emails of support.......to let her know people do care.....David well put about UU. You are very gifted and skilled in how u make presentations and this is one example.

 

[Pah]

David,

I don't know if you saw this..... you're not gonna like it:

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=6980825

This may be off topic But, in fairness, CNN has this in it's article
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/12/01/us.church.adban/

The church quoted CBS as saying that the ad was rejected "because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples ... and the fact that the executive branch has recently proposed a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast."

A CBS spokesman confirmed that the ad had been rejected but would not comment directly on the UCC's characterization of the reasons for its action, saying only that the ad "was against our policy of accepting advocacy advertising."

CBS did accept a second UCC ad for broadcast.

An NBC spokeswoman said the problem with the ad was not its depiction of same-sex couples at church, but rather its implication that other religions are not open to all people.

"It went against our long-standing policy of not accepting ads that deal with issues of public controversy," the network's spokeswoman said.

Bob

 

[Davidium]

Yes, the networks have gotten wussy over certain things. But it does not really make me angry, just sad over what is happening to our networks. They can accept or reject any ads they want.

We have an ad campaign for the Houston area debuting next month for the UUA. Unless I am mistaken it does include our welcoming policy for all, reguardless of race, sex, creed, or sexual preference.

But, this is the interesting thing for me. To be truely welcoming you must also be accepting. The Methodists have called themselves welcoming of Gay couples for awhile, but I would propose they just proved themselves not to be accepting.

Here is a question we can ask members of those Denominations who have a "Welcoming" policy for homosexuals.... Do you welcome them and accept who they are.... Or do you welcome them with the hope that your message can reform them from their sexual orientation?

Reason and Respect,

David

 

[huajiro]

I am telling you....the UU is looking really good to me at this point

 

[Davidium]

I am telling you....the UU is looking really good to me at this point

That warms my heart to hear!

Visit a UU Fellowship near you.... You will find them to be very welcoming. Find out from them what kind of small group ministries they offer (usually called Chalice circles or Covenant Groups) and pick one that interests you.... For example, in our fellowship, I participate in the Deism Covenant Group, Men's support covenant group, and the Writers covenant Group. We also have a Gardners group, a Zen meditation Group, and a few others. We even have a Pagan Group!

So, check one out Sunday morning... but realize the true heart of a UU church is not Sunday morning services... it is the small group ministries... Find one that works with your philosophy, or that you want to learn about, and join in. It is in the small group setting that the heart and soul of UU resides, in my most humble opinion.

Reason and Respect,

David

 

[Runt]

This came up in my religion class today. There seemed to be a lot of mixed responses.

 

[huajiro]

That warms my heart to hear!

Visit a UU Fellowship near you.... You will find them to be very welcoming. Find out from them what kind of small group ministries they offer (usually called Chalice circles or Covenant Groups) and pick one that interests you.... For example, in our fellowship, I participate in the Deism Covenant Group, Men's support covenant group, and the Writers covenant Group. We also have a Gardners group, a Zen meditation Group, and a few others. We even have a Pagan Group!

So, check one out Sunday morning... but realize the true heart of a UU church is not Sunday morning services... it is the small group ministries... Find one that works with your philosophy, or that you want to learn about, and join in. It is in the small group setting that the heart and soul of UU resides, in my most humble opinion.

Reason and Respect,

David

I found one near my home....I think I will go next weekend