Just Resolution in same-sex marriage cases

A Time to Share in

Giving Thanks and Witness

For Achieving two Just Resolutions

Across the Michigan Area

Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at 11:00 am

University United Methodist Church

1120 S. Harrison Road

East Lansing, MI

Join other clergy and laity from the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences in celebrating the signing of Just Resolutions by Rev. Ed Rowe, Rev. Mike Tupper, Bishop Deborah Kiesey and those who initiated separate complaints against Ed and Mike for having performed same gender ceremonies earlier this year.

For the first time in the history of seeking Just Resolutions we have the amazing opportunity to create a safe place for our LGBTQ siblings to tell the story of how our Church’s words and behaviors have caused deep and often deadly harm.  Using the South African “Truth and Reconciliation” process we can hear these stories in a way that does “no more harm.”  This process does not try to change or convert anyone’s beliefs.  Instead it is based on the belief that once people are fully aware of the hurt being done they will covenant to change their words and actions in order to do no more harm.

Both Ed and Mike along with others will be present to:

• Lead in moments of thanksgiving and appreciation for Bishop Kiesey and her graceful leadership in the supervisory response processes as well as that of the complainants which led to these Just Resolutions and the avoidance of church trials
• Provide a brief overview of the disciplinary process
• Share their stories and the specifics about each Just Resolution – similarities and differences
• Explain the Truth and Reconciliation concept and how it will be used
• Offer a time for questions from those gathered
• Invite input and participation by others who can help plan and implement the objectives of the Just Resolutions
• Offer prayers for these achievements and what lies ahead to be accomplished

We are excited and blessed with this opportunity and covet your participation.  Please come and bring others with you to be part of this significant time in the life and future of United Methodists across Michigan.

Connectional Table panel on homosexuality

There was a notable event sponsored by the United Methodist Council of Bishops. It was part of the Connectional Table which "oversees the coordination of mission, ministries, and resources across the denomination." As part of that it is hosting a series of online conversations as a dialogue on topics of interest. One of those conversations was a few days ago and put on by the Human Sexuality Task Force. The primary topic was homosexuality. This panel was translated into French, Portuguese, and German, the languages of the worldwide denomination. At peak viewership 450 computers (around the world?) were receiving the streaming.

The news reports say there were six panelists, five of whom are (or were) members of the Council of Bishops. Those reports are unclear about who else was in the room. Surely a moderator and a cameraman to get the program out onto the web. There was also a screen to view videos, one of which was submitted by the mother of a gay son who had committed suicide because the church's new youth pastor had declared the lad was going to hell. But it isn't clear there was a live audience, how big it was, and who was in it.

One thing is clear: If there was an audience it didn't include gay people. Which means once again there were a bunch of people pontificating about us (even if some of them were on our side) without our presence.

Frank Schaefer's reinstatement upheld

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.

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.

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 the bishop's office

Alas, I must replace the original post under this title. I had written more than was appropriate. What was in this post might have damaged Ed's negotiations and I don't want to do that. I deeply apologize to Ed and all others working for inclusion.

I will discuss with Ed what might be safe to say and what isn't. If and when that happens I might post an alternate version of the events.

With humble apology,
Your citizen scribe

Church Acceptance Project

I had some time this morning to talk to Rev. Jeff Nelson about Rev. Ed Rowe's meeting with the Michigan Bishop tomorrow. As part of that Jeff mentioned that Ed will be basing his Just Resolution on ideas he had learned from the Ruth Ellis Center (where I'm a volunteer) about the Family Acceptance Project. I won't go into how Ed will use it as a way of resolution.

However, I can say more about the Family Acceptance Project. I learned about it one evening two years ago at the Center. Caitlin Ryan of San Francisco State University gave a presentation to the staff and I was asked to sit in. I wrote about it in my other blog, the one I use to share LGBT news with friends and family. The post is here. Replace every reference to "parent" with "church" and you get an idea where Ed is headed.

Jeff said Ed's big goal is to reduce, hopefully eliminate, harm. And he means real, serious harm. Jeff does not want to see another forum where our harm is put up against the "harm" that conservatives in the denomination claim when the issue is discussed. It is time to end that nonsense.

Just before I talked to Jeff I chatted with another member of the congregation, an ally. She had talked to a friend who has a gay son. The friend has expressed remorse that her son will be going to hell when he dies. She has probably said as much to her son. That is the harm, to both mother and child, Jeff is talking about.

Jeff had another bit of news. There is a second pastor in Michigan who performed a same-sex ceremony. This one is from the more conservative West Michigan Conference. His meeting before the bishop is Thursday.