Almost a year ago Rev. Frank Schaefer was convicted of performing a same-sex marriage ceremony for his gay son, which defies the rules of the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church. Schaefer was defrocked and lost his job in Pennsylvania. A few months later the bishop of California offered him a job. There is more of Schaefer's story here.
That defrocking was appealed and in June a regional appeals committee reinstated Schaefer and restored his credentials. That decision was appealed to the denomination's Judicial Council.
The Judicial Council held their fall meeting last week in Memphis and issued their ruling today. The decision of the appeals committee is upheld. Schaefer will keep his credentials.
If I understand correctly the article put out by the denomination, the trial issued two penalties. The first was a 30 day suspension. The second was power granted to the Board of Ordained Ministry to change the suspension to termination if Schaefer didn't follow all the conditions of the suspension. Since Schaefer refused to say he would never perform more same-sex ceremonies the BOM declared a violation of the terms of the suspension and terminated Schaefer.
The Judicial Council said that the penalty had to be fixed at the trial and a harsher one could not be imposed later. I take that to mean Schaefer was reinstated on a technical interpretation of procedure, not on a ruling of the underlying issue of pastors performing same-sex ceremonies.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
New pastor at Redford Aldersgate
Today Redford Aldersgate United Methodist Church commissioned Julie Herod as Assistant Pastor of Finance and Administration. Her main duties are finance and stewardship and she will also assist in worship, teaching, and pastoral care.
Julie and her partner Sue Selewski have been members of Redford Aldersgate for over a year and Julie decided it was time to put her talents to work for a church that has welcomed her and Sue. Here is a photo of Julie and Sue.
This is a photo of the comsissioning service. From the left are Pastor Courtney Williams of the West Outer Drive campus, Pastor Julie Herod, Pastor Jeff Nelson of the Redford campus, and Staff Parish Chair Murray Davis.
A tradition at Redford Aldersgate is for all of us to lay hands on a person, this time in celebration. Pastors Julie and Jeff moved to the center of the sanctuary. All of us formed a human chain laying hands on Julie or on the person in front of us. We are all connected in community.
Pastor Julie told us a bit about her story. She heard a call to ministry at the age of 10. But when she was ready to act on the call she was told it was not possible. Julie turned to a career in finance and administration and served as both Controller and CFO in various organizations.
Twenty years later she returned to the call and earned a Masters of Divinity from Baptist Missionary Alliance Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, Texas. She was ordained through the International Association of Community Churches and served churches in Texas and Michigan. This is a photo of Pastor Julie telling her story.
You may wonder how a lesbian in relationship can serve as a pastor in a United Methodist Church given the restrictions in the Book of Discipline. This is a personnel decision strictly within the local church. Pastor Julie was not appointed by the bishop. She is not an elder in the denomination. She is offering her gifts and talents to the church and the church is gratefully offering her a way to put those talents to work. We welcome her commission to work among us and for us.
Julie and her partner Sue Selewski have been members of Redford Aldersgate for over a year and Julie decided it was time to put her talents to work for a church that has welcomed her and Sue. Here is a photo of Julie and Sue.
This is a photo of the comsissioning service. From the left are Pastor Courtney Williams of the West Outer Drive campus, Pastor Julie Herod, Pastor Jeff Nelson of the Redford campus, and Staff Parish Chair Murray Davis.
A tradition at Redford Aldersgate is for all of us to lay hands on a person, this time in celebration. Pastors Julie and Jeff moved to the center of the sanctuary. All of us formed a human chain laying hands on Julie or on the person in front of us. We are all connected in community.
Pastor Julie told us a bit about her story. She heard a call to ministry at the age of 10. But when she was ready to act on the call she was told it was not possible. Julie turned to a career in finance and administration and served as both Controller and CFO in various organizations.
Twenty years later she returned to the call and earned a Masters of Divinity from Baptist Missionary Alliance Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, Texas. She was ordained through the International Association of Community Churches and served churches in Texas and Michigan. This is a photo of Pastor Julie telling her story.
You may wonder how a lesbian in relationship can serve as a pastor in a United Methodist Church given the restrictions in the Book of Discipline. This is a personnel decision strictly within the local church. Pastor Julie was not appointed by the bishop. She is not an elder in the denomination. She is offering her gifts and talents to the church and the church is gratefully offering her a way to put those talents to work. We welcome her commission to work among us and for us.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Global Face of AIDS
The First United Methodist Church of Birmingham (1589 W. Maple Rd.) invites you to set aside an hour on Sunday evening, Nov. 9 to attend the AIDS Remembrance and Awareness Worship Service. The service will be held in the Church’s sanctuary from 5:00–6:00PM. It is an opportunity to reflect on and remember those who have fallen victim to this terrible disease. The service is also intended to raise our awareness that AIDS is not a disease that has been conquered, nor is it a thing of the past. In his remarks, the Rev. Roland Stringfellow, Senior Pastor at Metropolitan Community Church Detroit will present the Global Face of AIDS as an active and worldwide life-threatening disease that calls for our attention and prayers. The service will also feature singing from the One Voice Chorus.
At a reception after the worship service, a selection of the famous AIDS Quilts will be on display in the Church’s Fellowship Hall with a host in attendance to address the purpose, meaning and impact of the quilts. While the worship service will move and inform you, the quilts will inspire you.
At a reception after the worship service, a selection of the famous AIDS Quilts will be on display in the Church’s Fellowship Hall with a host in attendance to address the purpose, meaning and impact of the quilts. While the worship service will move and inform you, the quilts will inspire you.
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