2008 Woodie Awards
United Methodist Church defrocks lesbian minister
Associated Press
Issue date: 11/2/05 Section: In The Spirit
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Eight council members voted to defrock Stroud; one council member was absent. Two members - Beth Capen and Susan T. Henry-Crowe - wrote a separate statement saying they felt badly about the result.
"We do not disagree with the legal analysis of our colleagues, although we deeply regret the outcome," they wrote. "While the Judicial Council must be faithful to its charge from the church we are also sensitive to the hurt, pain and brokenness of the family of God."
Mark Tooley, program director for The Institute on Religion and Democracy, an advocacy group for conservative mainline Protestants, said he was not surprised by the ruling.
"The council has enforced the church's teachings on marriage and sexuality," he said, "and it looks like it will continue to do that even though some regional bodies will attempt to circumvent a clear meaning of church law."
Hall said the decision provides some relief for the church, but is "not the end of this whole conversation."
"An issue like this takes so much energy on both sides, and takes the focus off a lot of the great things the church is doing," Hall said. "This gives us some space so we can hopefully channel our energies into the great things we're doing." The UMC is the nation's third-largest denomination.
Stroud held a news conference Monday outside her church in Philadelphia and was joined by her partner, Chris Paige. The two recently celebrated the five-year anniversary of their commitment ceremony.
"We've spent about half of our married life in this judicial process. ... I'm just glad it's over," Paige said.
Stroud will continue as a lay staff member at her congregation, preaching, supervising children's and youth work and conducting pastoral visits. She told the congregation Sunday that she and Paige were applying to be foster parents.
Stroud said she would accept offers to speak at other churches that are open to homosexuals.
"I want to stay in relationship with people whose minds I might have an opportunity to change," she said. "We can't have any question or any denial about the fact that the United Methodist Church practices discrimination against gays and lesbian people."
"We do not disagree with the legal analysis of our colleagues, although we deeply regret the outcome," they wrote. "While the Judicial Council must be faithful to its charge from the church we are also sensitive to the hurt, pain and brokenness of the family of God."
Mark Tooley, program director for The Institute on Religion and Democracy, an advocacy group for conservative mainline Protestants, said he was not surprised by the ruling.
"The council has enforced the church's teachings on marriage and sexuality," he said, "and it looks like it will continue to do that even though some regional bodies will attempt to circumvent a clear meaning of church law."
Hall said the decision provides some relief for the church, but is "not the end of this whole conversation."
"An issue like this takes so much energy on both sides, and takes the focus off a lot of the great things the church is doing," Hall said. "This gives us some space so we can hopefully channel our energies into the great things we're doing." The UMC is the nation's third-largest denomination.
Stroud held a news conference Monday outside her church in Philadelphia and was joined by her partner, Chris Paige. The two recently celebrated the five-year anniversary of their commitment ceremony.
"We've spent about half of our married life in this judicial process. ... I'm just glad it's over," Paige said.
Stroud will continue as a lay staff member at her congregation, preaching, supervising children's and youth work and conducting pastoral visits. She told the congregation Sunday that she and Paige were applying to be foster parents.
Stroud said she would accept offers to speak at other churches that are open to homosexuals.
"I want to stay in relationship with people whose minds I might have an opportunity to change," she said. "We can't have any question or any denial about the fact that the United Methodist Church practices discrimination against gays and lesbian people."
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