NIC VOICE
News Update May 1:
Stroud Appeal Verdict - Lone Dissenting Vote/Pastoral Letter from Bishop
Matthews
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View previously released
NIC
VOICE
news updates on the Beth
Stroud Case here:
http://www.faithfulchristianlaity.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=191.
NIC VOICE
news updates published
during the trial week and after have been posted on the
NIC VOICE
web site:
http://www.nicvoice.org/beth_stroud_trial_updates.htm
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Lone Dissenting Vote:
"The lone dissenting opinion was offered by the Rev. LaGretta Bjorn,
from Spring Valley, N.Y. She did not agree with the majority opinion
that the First Restrictive Rule is violated by Paragraph 304.3. That
paragraph, in the 2000 Book of Discipline, states that "self-avowed
practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as
ministers or appointed to serve" the church."
Rev. LaGretta Bjorn,
United Methodist Church, Spring Valley, NY
Women of Color Award - 2001
The Office of Loans and Scholarships and the board's Division of Ordained
Ministry, both based in Nashville, sponsor the Women of Color Scholars
program. It was initiated in 1989 in response to the lack of women of color
faculty in theological education.
The program aims to place women of color in faculty positions at all 13
United Methodist-related seminaries and to increase the number of women of
color who teach, lecture, write and research at the doctoral level in all
seminaries.
Other program goals include heightening denominational awareness of the need
for women of color in theological education and encouraging United Methodist
women to consider careers in that field.
The Women of Color Scholars Program provides up to $10,000 a year in
scholarship funds to any United Methodist woman having at least one parent
of African, Hispanic, Native American, Asian or Pacific Island background;
who has earned a master of divinity degree; and is pursuing a doctorate for
a career in theological education and religious studies.
In addition to Youngbird-Holt, other recipients of the 2001-02 awards are:
LaGretta J. Kennedy Bjorn, Drew University, the Theological School,
Madison,
N.J.
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Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church
Pastoral
Letter from Bishop Matthews in regard to the decision of the Committee
on Appeals
4/30/2005
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Today the Northeastern Jurisdiction Committee on Appeals reversed and
set aside the verdict and penalty decided by the trial court on December
2, which found Irene Elizabeth "Beth" Stroud guilty of violating United
Methodist church law which forbids the ordination and appointment of
"self-avowed practicing homosexuals."
The appeals committee held that the evidence of the trial court was
sufficient, however overturned the verdict based on “legal error” by a
vote of 8-1.
We will now take time to thoroughly and thoughtfully digest the
Committee on Appeals decision, and will take into consideration United
Methodist Church law and Judicial Council rulings as we consider our
options and make a decision on how to proceed.
We will continue to be in prayer as we seek God's guidance in this
matter. We trust God will lead us in this time of discernment and
reflection.
Should The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference decide to appeal the decision
of the Northeastern Jurisdiction Committee on Appeals, Counsel for the
Church will have 30 days in which to file that appeal with the Judicial
Council.
Please keep The United Methodist Church, in particular the Eastern
Pennsylvania Conference, and those who are impacted by these ongoing
deliberations in your prayers.
Yours in Christ,
Marcus Matthews
Bishop of The Philadelphia Area of The United Methodist Church
Links For Reference:
Bishop Marcus Matthews – Elected Bishop
Bishop Marcus Matthews - Biographical
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Transforming Congregations – Hot Topics
BETH STROUD TRIAL VERDICT REVERSED
In
an 8/1 vote, the Northeast Jurisdictional Committee on Appeals "reversed
and put aside" the original guilty verdict and penalty of the Beth
Stroud trial. Beth was tried under Discipline Paragraph 304.3, which
states that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian
teaching and self-avowed, practicing homosexuals may not be ordained or
appointed to ministry. (See the next item for more information about the
December trial.)
Stating that the evidence in the trial was overwhelming, the Committee
nonetheless based the reversal on two supposed errors of law. First,
neither the General Conference nor the Eastern PA Annual Conference has
ever defined "self avowed, practicing homosexual" or "status," so it was
therefore illegal to try Beth under Discipline paragraph 304.3.
Second, Paragraph 304.3 is a new "doctrine or teaching" that the General
Conference has never declared is "not contrary" to the present doctrinal
standards, and therefore violates the first Restrictive Rule. (That the
UMC will not make up new doctrine.)
Only one member of the committee dissented from the majority opinion -
Rev. LaGretta Bjorn, from Spring Valley, N.Y.
The Eastern PA Annual Conference has not yet decided whether or not the
Committee's decision will be further appealed to the Judicial Council.
In the meantime, Beth has announced she will not resume ministerial
functions (baptism and communion) until the matter is finally settled.
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For reference: UMNS Coverage
Stroud
Appeal Coverage
The
latest coverage of the April 2005 Beth Stroud appeal as reported by the
United Methodist News Service.
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News Updates Previously Released by
NIC VOICE
Regarding Beth Stroud Trial:
Pre-Trial Updates (posted at the NIC VOICE Forum at Faithful
Christian Laity)
Collection of Trial and Appeal Press Reports at Beth Stroud’s Web Site
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