1028: This Week's Overlooked [Relatively] Gay-Friendly Judicial Council Decision

United Methodists (at least those who keep up with what's going on in their denomination) have had a lot to say about UM Judicial Council Decisions 1027 (ultimately defrocking minister Beth Stroud, a "self-avowed, practicing homosexual") and 1032 (reinstating a pastor who denied membership to an openly gay man), both issued Monday. Because of these two rulings, Halloween was less-than-festive for those of us who support the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the life and ministry of the church.

But as we clean the toilet paper from our proverbial front-lawn trees, there is still a burning candle in our jack-o-lantern. (How's that for a Halloween-themed metaphor?) Compared to 1027 and 1032, Decision 1028 is actually relatively gay-friendly.

A resolution passed this summer by California-Nevada annual conference to "welcome and include people who may be on the edges in our communities" asked District Superintendents to instruct congregations to (among other things):

To make plans to welcome and include LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgendered) persons in leadership roles in the church

The resolution was challenged on the grounds that it required District Superintendents "to hold churches accountable for a position specifically at odds with ¶304.3 of the 2004 Discipline." That paragraph in the Discipline bars "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals" from being ordained as clergy. California-Nevada Bishop Beverly J. Shamana determined that the resolution did not contradict the Discipline, and the Judicial Council affirmed her ruling:

The Bishop is correct in her ruling that ¶ 304.3 applies to persons in the ordained ministry and the prohibition against certifying, ordaining, and appointing self-avowed practicing homosexuals to serve in the Church. The adopted provision says the district superintendent would be asking for a report on how the church is making plans to welcome lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered persons into the leadership of the church. Paragraph 214 of the Discipline states,“[a]ll people may attend its [The United Methodist Church] worship services, participate in the programs, receive the sacraments and become members in any local church in the connection.…” Further, The United Methodist Church is committed to be in ministry for and with all persons. ¶161G, 2004 Discipline and Decision 913.

So the UMC's minds, hearts, and doors are not entirely closed to openly gay persons.