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 ENFORCE Continued from page 1B “The United Methodist Church


Suit would end clergy tax break The Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed suit in federal court in Madison, Wis., seeking to have de- clared unconstitutional a tax break for clergy. A 1954 federal law exempts clergy from paying taxes on in- come used for housing, in- cluding furnishings and utilities. The non-believers’ group, based in Madison, argues that the law violates the U.S. Constitution, specifi- cally the Establishment and Equal Protection clauses.


Christians flee turmoil in Syria The cycle of public protests and government reprisals in Syria has prompted many Christians to flee the country in the past few months, offi- cials of the Baptist World Al- liance say. Departures by families have been numer- ous in those areas where children have witnessed daily shootings. The violence has also made conditions difficult for people to make a living.


Bishop creates buzz with celibacy passage Catholic Bishop Edward Daly of Northern Ireland has seen press attention to his 100,000-word memoir, A Troubled See, focus on a brief passage about celibacy. Bishop Daly, 77 and retired head of the Dio- cese of Derry, told Catholic News Service that he valued his vow of celibacy but be- lieves the church “must look again” at making celibacy a requirement for most priests. “I am not the first Irish bishop to speak about this,” he said.


Lightning strikes historic AME church Lightning struck the Allen Chapel AME Church in Fort Worth, one of the oldest black churches in North Texas, during Sept. 16 storms. Falling bricks dam- aged the roof, which led to water damage. No injuries were reported, but the 141st anniversary service for Allen Chapel had to be moved to nearby Baker Chapel AME Church, the Fort Worth Star- Telegram reported.


—Compiled by Sam Hodges


needs clear and prophetic leadership right now,” Dr. Robb said. Bishop Larry Goodpaster, presi-


dent of the Council of Bishops, con- firmed receiving the letter calling for enforcement, as well letters from other groups of laity and clergy. “When the executive committee


of the Council of Bishops meets prior to the fall meeting, we will review these and decide about any response that it might make or that might come from the full council,”he said. The Council of Bishops meets in


late October and early November at Lake Junaluska, N.C. Bishop Goodpaster added, “We


bishops clearly understand and act according to the Book of Discipline, Paragraph 47, Section Three, of the Constitution where we are charged with ‘carrying into effect the rules, regulations, and responsibilities pre- scribed and enjoined by the General Conference.’” The 59 pastors also announced


creation of a website, www. faithfulumc.com, where clergy and laity who support their position can add their names. By Sept. 21, the site listed 983 clergy and 2,300 laity as having signed. The Rev. Bruce Robbins, senior


minister of Hennepin Avenue UMC in Minneapolis and former general secretary of the UMC’s General Com- mission on Christian Unity and In- terreligious Concerns, originated the movement of pastors pledging to conduct same-sex unions. “For me the time finally came


that I needed to do something that would demonstrate the depth of commitment I have to having the church be fully inclusive to all peo- ple,”he said. Dr. Robbins said representatives


of the Reconciling Ministries Net- work and Methodist Federation for Social Action met in late August, and he learned then that more than 1,000 UM clergy have pledged to officiate


at same-sex unions. Dr. Robbins acknowledged the


Book of Discipline prohibits that. “At the same time,” he said, “there are statements in the Book of Discipline that promote inclusiveness in power- ful ways. . . . In ministry we often find ourselves with conflicting covenants in our lives and we have to make some very hard decisions both per- sonally and professionally.” But the 59 pastors who wrote the


bishops said Dr. Robbins and others are “encouraging and committed to massive acts of ecclesiastical disobe- dience, hoping that the United Methodist Church will not possess the resources or resolve to enforce the church’s position.” The letter adds, “Honestly, we fear


that many of our people will decide that if the United Methodist Church will not live by the covenant that holds us together, it will be time for them to find another church. The positive ministries of transforma- tional discipleship that we are at- tempting to build are threatened by this group of defiant clergy.” Those signing the letter include


such mega-church pastors as the Rev. Jorge Acevedo, of Grace Church in Fort Myers, Fl., and the Rev. Mark Beeson, of Grace Community Church in Granger, Ind. Though many of the signers are from the generally more conservative Southern conferences, there are names from around the country. The Book of Discipline describes


the practice of homosexuality as “in- compatible with Christian teaching,” prohibits “self-avowed practicing ho- mosexuals” from serving as clergy, and says UMC clergy cannot officiate at same-sex weddings or other cere- monies that celebrate homosexual unions. Efforts to change those positions


have failed at General Conference, the quadrennial gathering of clergy and lay delegates that governs the church. The Rev. Ken Werlein, pastor of


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Alan Heath, CEO Sam Hodges, Managing Editor Bill Fentum, Associate Editor Mary Jacobs, Staff Writer Cherrie Graham, Advertising Manager Dale Bryant, Senior Designer


SEP TEMBER 30, 2011 | UN I T E D ME T HODI S T RE PO RT ER


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Delegates prayed at the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth before voting on issues related to homosexuality.


Faithbridge UMC in Spring, Texas, and one of the leaders of the effort to press the bishops, said, “As we ap- proach the 2012 General Conference, United Methodists in the pulpits and the pews need to hear that their lead- ers are in touch with the mainstream and grassroots of the church.” Church trials for conducting


same-sex unions have been rare. But in June, the Rev. Amy DeLong was convicted by a jury of her Wisconsin Conference peers of having con- ducted a holy union ceremony for a lesbian couple in 2009. Her main punishment was a 20-


day suspension from ministerial functions. “If pastors performing such serv-


ices are not dealt with quickly and with genuine consequences for their disobedience, our members will be- lieve that the leadership of the church has failed them,” said the 59 pastors. Dr. Robbins read the letter sent to the bishops and said he saw in it “a


lack of compassion, and that saddens me.”


He said, “I value my covenant


with other clergy across the connec- tion, including the people listed on this letter. All of us find times in our lives when we have to choose be- tween difficult options.” Many states have statutory or


constitutional language, or both, defining marriage as between a man and a woman; and state constitu- tional amendments to that effect have typically won big. But recent polls have shown slight


majority support nationwide for le- galizing same-sex marriage, and New York recently became the sixth and largest state to make such marriages legal. Five states have legalized civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. Earlier this year, 36 retired bish-


ops called on the UMC to lift its ban on homosexual clergy.


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