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Methodist jury finds Beth Stroud guilty of violating church law on sexuality
It shouldn't be a big shocker that a church jury defrocked United Methodist minister Beth Stroud. She told her congregation that she's a practicing lesbian (her partner was the publisher of The Other Side until it folded in October), and the Methodist Book of Order clearly bans "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals … as ministers." The church's rule on this was strengthened at the denomination's May meeting.

But it is a big deal because Methodist ministers are violating the church's teachings on sexual ethics, but other juries and denominational leaders have thwarted any disciplinary measures. Just two months ago, a complaint was dismissed against Karen Oliveto, who had performed the marriage of a gay couple in San Francisco.

In fact, the last time the denomination actually defrocked one of its ministers over homosexual behavior was in the 1987 Rose Mary Denman case. In 1999, Jimmy Creech was defrocked for performing same-sex union ceremonies.

Stroud plans to keep ministering without her credentials. Under Methodist polity, she can continue preaching as a lay member, but can't administer Communion elements or conduct baptisms. She says she hasn't decided whether to appeal the ruling, the announcement of which was followed by her supporters gathering in the courtroom, singing, "We are gay and straight together, singing, singing for our lives."

For our lives?

More on homosexuality & churches:

• Return of Lutheran group's status sought | Central City mission was removed as a congregation over its call to a lesbian minister (The Press-Enterprise, Riverside, Ca.)
• Christianity doesn't invalidate same-sex relationships - SACC | Caution urged over appeal court ruling (Cape Times, Cape Town, South Africa)

United Church of Christ ad:

• Exclusion and embrace | Maybe the networks should air that United Church of Christ ad—and allow a rebuttal. (Joseph Loconte, The Wall Street Journal)
• Since when does conflict turn off the networks? | We liberals don't do evangelism (Madison Shockley, Los Angeles Times)
• Hard to fathom exclusion of ad promoting inclusion | It's a shame that NBC and CBS won't let us be heard. (Joyce Hollyday, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Rejection of ad stirs emotions at church | Local congregants struggle to grasp networks' decision (Fort Collins Coloradoan)
• Marketing God | While religious promotions are no stranger to the airwaves, this is not the typical Mormon promotion, asking people to love their neighbor and call for a free Bible (Andover Townsman, Mass.)
• United Church of Christ protests political climate as TV ad rejected | CBS, NBC and ABC have all refused to air one of the campaign's two ads (The Berkshire Eagle, Mass.)
• Church TV spot denial raises ire | Critics blast CBS, NBC for decision (San Bernardino Sun)
• A chill wind | The idea of tolerance suddenly can't be tolerated (Editorial, The Baltimore Sun)

Education:

• Ave Maria reins in plans | Rising costs could force oratory, campus cuts (The News-Press, Fort Meyers, Fla.)
• Religion Today: Baptists readying school exodus? | Frustration with public education seems to be growing among the nation's Southern Baptists, with supporters of Christian schools and home schooling arguing that if God is absent from the classroom then their children should leave, too (Associated Press)
• Washington funds false sex lessons | The Bush administration is funding sexual health projects that teach children that HIV can be contracted through sweat and tears, touching genitals can result in pregnancy, and that a 43-day-old foetus is a thinking person (The Guardian, London)

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November (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48