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Religion Forum Index » Christian Methodist Forum » UMNS: Dammann verdict prompts mixed reactions from groups
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 Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 7:57 am |
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Dammann verdict prompts mixed reactions from groups
Mar. 29, 2004
A UMNS Report
By Amy Green*
The acquittal of a lesbian clergywoman in a United Methodist church
trial has sparked both criticism and praise from unofficial advocacy
groups, as some celebrate the verdict while others blast it as
"schismatic."
The March 20 acquittal of the Rev. Karen Dammann of Ellensburg, Wash.,
led some groups to call for a reprimand of church leaders in the region.
Others, however, said the verdict should push United Methodists to focus
instead on Christian unity and tolerance.
The trial's outcome "points to the deep and painful divisions that exist
within our denomination," said the Rev. Kathryn Johnson of the Methodist
Federation for Social Action, a group that supported the verdict. "As
the news of the 'not guilty' verdict spread across the country Š tears
of rejoicing and relief were shed and prayers of thanks uttered. At the
very same moment, others were shedding tears of grief and pain as they
tried to deal with feelings of shock and betrayal."
The denomination put Dammann, a Seattle-area pastor, on trial after she
acknowledged her longtime homosexual relationship. While church law
prohibits the ordination of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals," a jury
of 13 of her peers found Dammann innocent of the single charge against
her, that of "practices declared by the United Methodist Church to be
incompatible with Christian teachings."
Groups disappointed in the decision directed some of their criticism at
the denomination's Pacific Northwest Annual (regional) Conference and
Western Jurisdiction. The jurisdiction, one of the church's five U.S.
regions, is viewed as being more liberal on social issues than other
parts of the church, particularly in comparison with the denomination's
Southeastern and South Central areas.
The Confessing Movement said that by the actions of the jury, the
Pacific Northwest Conference has become "schismatic."
"This nullification of church law ... must not be allowed to stand," the
group said in a statement. "The clergy jury have broken covenant with
the church and failed to live up to their ordination vows."
The verdict came a month before General Conference, the church's largest
legislative assembly held every four years. Nearly 1,000 delegates from
across the globe will gather in Pittsburgh on April 27-May 7 to make
laws for the denomination.
The Confessing Movement suggested that delegates consider a way to allow
"those in the Western Jurisdiction - and the rest of the church for that
matter - who are not willing to keep and live by the covenants of the
church Š to amicably depart from the denomination with their property
and clergy retirement benefits secured."
The Good News organization argued the verdict puts the church "in the
midst of one of its most serious crises in more than a decade." That
group, too, described the verdict as "schismatic" and called on United
Methodists to voice their dismay to church leaders, and General
Conference delegates to consider a censure of Pacific Northwest church
leaders.
"The United Methodist Church cannot continue with any sense of unity
with these kinds of destructive irregularities tearing at the heart,
soul and conscience of the church," Good News said in a statement.
The ecumenical Institute on Religion and Democracy condemned the verdict
as "farcical."
"Every United Methodist General Conference since 1972 has declared
homosexual practice to be incompatible with Christian teaching," said
Mark Tooley, a spokesman for the group. "Yet a jury of 13 clergy decided
the church in fact has no position on the topic."
However, Johnson, executive director of the Methodist Federation for
Social Action, cheered the verdict. The group has submitted a petition
urging General Conference to delete a reference in the church's Social
Principles to homosexuality being incompatible with Christian teaching
and to acknowledge instead the differences that exist in the
denomination "among faithful Christians." "We stand before God admitting
that we have thus far been unable to reach common ground," the group's
suggested wording says.
This confession is necessary for the church to move forward on the
issue, Johnson said.
"The question should not be which side will 'win' but rather how to
address the deep divisions in the body of the church," she said.
Others echoed that sentiment. Troy Plummer, executive director of the
Reconciling Ministries Network - a group pushing for broader inclusion
of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in the denomination
- found the verdict an affirmation of diversity that should be
celebrated.
The Rev. Peggy R. Gaylord, spokeswoman for Affirmation, a group working
to make the denomination more inclusive to all, summed her feelings up
simply.
"We just really deplore any efforts to exclude to any degree any group
from participation from life in the church," she said. "I just think
that Š a fundamental message of Christ is that the church is open to
all. We get hung up on doctrine. ... The doctrine was not what Jesus was
about."
*Green is a freelance journalist based in Nashville, Tenn.
********************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
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