NIC VOICE
News Update
05-06-2005 Good News Commentary Beth Stroud; New Press Articles
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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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Good News
Good News is “a renewal ministry within
the United Methodist Church. For more than 34 years, Good News has been
a voice for evangelical and historic Wesleyan concerns within our
church. We are committed to being a voice for repentance, an agent for
reform, and a catalyst for renewal within our denomination. “
James V.
Heidinger II
President
and Publisher
Unfortunately United Methodism is buzzing about an April 29 appeal
committee verdict which overturned the December trial court conviction
of Beth Stroud. Stroud had acknowledged being in a lesbian relationship
with another woman.
We
want to say, first of all, to those who are concerned about this appeals
court action, that it is sure to be
over-ruled by the Judicial Council when it next meets. That
is our prediction. We believe this very questionable action will not
stand.
Brief History of Stroud Case
The matter all began in 2003 when Stroud, an associate pastor at First
United Methodist Church, Germantown, PA, announced to her bishop and
congregation that she was living in a committed relationship with her
partner, Chris Paige. After several unsuccessful attempts at resolving
the matter, Bishop Peter Weaver, then bishop in Eastern Pennsylvania,
filed a complaint against Stroud, which led to the trial.
On
December 2, at the church trial, Beth Stroud was found guilty for being
a practicing lesbian. The trial court ruled (by a 12-1 vote) she was in
violation of church law which forbids the ordination and appointment of
“self-avowed practicing homosexuals.” In the penalty phase, the court
voted 7-6 to remove her clergy credentials.
About the Appeal Committee Ruling
First, we are not surprised that Beth Stroud appealed the decision. She
had that right to appeal. Her counsel at the trial had issues about our
church law that he wanted to present but was not allowed, properly we
believe, to do so by the presiding judge. These matters have now been
brought as examples of “legal errors” in the trial itself.
The appeal committee did admit that “the evidence in support of the
charge [against Stroud] was overwhelming and would be sustained in the
absence of legal error.” In other words, there was no doubt that Beth
was in a same-sex relationship. She publicly admitted it. And that is
expressly forbidden by United Methodist church law. Thus, the only hope
to overturn the guilty verdict, which had been unpopular among some in
the liberal Northeastern Jurisdiction, was to find some “legal error” in
the trial.
Second, the two “legal errors” the appeals committee cited were such a
stretch as to be almost funny. The first error claimed that “neither the
General Conference nor the pertinent annual conference has defined the
words, ‘practicing homosexual’ and ‘status.’” That was claimed,
notwithstanding the fact that the
Discipline
has had a definition for “self-avowed practicing homosexual” since 1996.
That definition can be found as footnote 1 at the bottom of page 197 of
the 2004
Discipline.
The committee seems to have argued that what is defined is “self-avowed”
and not “practicing homosexual.” This is utterly non-persuasive.
The second claim of supposed error is an even greater stretch and almost
amusing if it were not about such a serious matter. The committee
claimed that by trying and convicting Stroud on the basis of Par. 304.3
( the paragraph in the
Discipline
that prohibits the ordination and appointment of “self avowed,
practicing homosexuals”), the trial court erred because that standard
(first passed in 1984) constitutes a “new standard or rule of doctrine”
and thus violates the First Restrictive Rule of the
Discipline.
(That claim is simply laughable!)
The First Restrictive Rule and UM Doctrinal Standards
The First Restrictive Rule is found in Par. 17 of the 2004
Discipline
and says, “The General Conference shall not revoke, alter, or change our
Articles of Religion or establish any new standards or rules of doctrine
contrary to our present existing and established standards of doctrine.”
So
let’s think carefully here. Paragraph 102, “Our Doctrinal History,”
states clearly on page 58 that our doctrinal standards are understood to
include the Articles of Religion, the Confession of Faith (from the EUB
tradition), and Wesley’s
Sermons
and
Notes.
United Methodism has never
understood the many specific requirements for ordained ministry to be a
part of our
doctrinal standards.
Paragraph 304, “Qualifications for Ordination” includes many different
requirements for ordained ministry. Again, these have never been, nor
should they be, considered part of our “Doctrinal Standards” which are
protected by the First Restrictive Rule. Again, such a claim is just
laughable.
Growing Impatience with Judicial Activism
One thinks of the way we have dealt with issues nationally in the last
30-40 years. Issues that have not been voted on by duly elected
legislators, at both the state and national level, have been advocated
and passed by judges and courts. The judiciary has been doing
legislation. We are seeing a similar pattern in the church, it appears.
The United Methodist Church has never been clearer about its standards
on issues related to human sexuality. However, those who cannot or will
not affirm those standards continue to seek every means to further their
agenda and challenge the church’s standards. There is considerable
indication that others across the church are losing patience with these
attempts to do juridical end runs around church law.
Good News was not surprised with the Appeal Committee ruling. As we
looked at the make-up on the committee, we noted that the Rev. William
Scott Campbell was serving as its chairman. We felt this committee could
well be a body that was
not supportive
of the church’s standards. Campbell is pastor of Harvard-Epworth United
Methodist Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a church which is listed
on the Reconciling Ministries Network as a “Reconciling Congregation.”
Such congregations disagree with the church’s standards on homosexuality
and affirm full participation of gays and lesbians at every level of
church life. Campbell also has been an outspoken critic of the church’s
standards on the sexuality issue. Having Campbell serving as chairman of
the appeals committee will not leave United Methodists feeling confident
about the ruling the committee made.
Bishops Make Statement
The Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops has issued a statement
reminding the church that the reversal of the Stroud trial was based
upon “some technicalities.” They went on to assure the church that “The
decision of the Northeastern Jurisdiction Committee on Appeals does not
in any way reverse the standards in our Book of Discipline. In fact, the
appeal process is an important part of our
Book of Discipline.”
At the same time, I hope the members of the Council realize the kind of
collateral damage that’s done each time one of these “public” events
happens. It is costing the United Methodist Church in terms of members,
money, and morale. The media will always give major play to events such
as the Appeals Committee overturning the trial court. But when (as we
expect) the Judicial Council overrules that action and sustains the
original guilty verdict of the trial court, the media will not give it
nearly the same prominence. And once again, thousands of United
Methodists will be left thinking their church cannot enforce its
standards on this issue.
Finally, all of this reflects why it has been so strategic to have 1)
clear standards on this issue; and 2) a solid Judicial Council in place
to deal with these kinds of issues.
James V. Heidinger II
President and Publisher
Steve@goodnewsmag.org
CONTACT: James V.
Heidinger II
859-858-4661
Good News Says Stroud Appeal Verdict Flawed, Predicts
Judicial Council Reversal; Commends Women’s Division’s Openness
To Christian Conversation with the RENEW Network
WILMORE, KY - The Executive Committee of Good News, an
evangelical renewal ministry within the United Methodist Church,
expressed deep disappointment at the ruling of the Northeastern
Jurisdictional Committee on Appeals which acted to reinstate the clergy
credentials of the Rev. Beth Stroud, who had been found guilty in a
trial court last December and stripped of her credentials. The Good News
leaders also applauded Dr. Jan Love, Deputy General Secretary of the
Women’s Division, for her acceptance of an invitation from Good News’
RENEW Network for face-to-face Christian Conversation in the near
future.
“We were distressed but not surprised to learn that the Appeals
Committee had reversed the Stroud trial court verdict,” said the Rev.
Tom Lambrecht, chairman of the Good News board and pastor of Faith
Community UMC in Greenville, Wisconsin. “And while we are disappointed,
we are confident this recent verdict will go to the church’s Judicial
Council and be overruled. Our church’s `Supreme Court’ is sure to uphold
the original trial court verdict,” Lambrecht added. “But it’s also time
our leaders realize just what these kinds of rulings are costing the
church in members, money, and morale.”
Good News’ Executive Committee met in the Atlanta area April 28 & 29,
the same two days the Committee on Appeals was meeting in the Baltimore
area. “It is significant that the appeal committee admitted that ‘the
evidence in support of the charge [against Stroud] was overwhelming and
would be sustained in the absence of legal error,’” said the Rev. Dr.
James V. Heidinger II, President and Publisher of Good News. “In citing
the two supposed ‘legal errors,’ the committee seemed to be grasping at
straws to find some reason to overturn the verdict,” Heidinger added.
“To claim the church had never defined “self-avowed practicing
homosexual” and that our sexuality standards had violated the First
Restrictive Rule were a real stretch of the imagination, almost amusing,
were it not about such a serious matter.”
The United Methodist doctrinal standards protected by the First
Restrictive Rule are understood to be, according to Par. 102 of the
Discipline,
the Articles of Religion, the Confession of Faith (from the EUB
tradition), and Wesley’s
Sermons
and
Notes.
The church has never viewed its requirements for ordained ministry to be
a part of its doctrinal standards.
In
an “Open Letter” sent March 28 to officers and leaders of United
Methodist Women, as well as to the Council of Bishops, Dr. Jan Love,
Deputy General Secretary of the Women’s Division responded to six
questions that had been asked of her in behalf of the RENEW Network.
Mrs. L. Faye Short, President of the RENEW Network, applauded Dr. Love’s
“willingness to listen to and respond to questions” asked by RENEW.
In
a similar “Open Letter” of response to Dr. Love on April 11, the RENEW
president also applauded the Women’s Division’s willingness to accept
the invitation from RENEW for face-to-face conversation between the two
groups. “This invitation has been accepted by the Women’s Division and
will be forthcoming. We sincerely trust this exchange now in this open
forum. . .will do much to bring integrity and reform to the organization
of United Methodist Women,” said Mrs. Short.
RENEW provides networking services for thousands of United Methodist
women, most of whom are active members and leaders in the organization
of United Methodist Women. The ministry encourages revitalization at the
local level and accountability on the part of the Women’s Division. More
information about RENEW is available at the RENEW web site,
www.renewnetwork.org.
Good News has also initiated contact with the Council of Bishops’ Task
Force on Unity, asking for an opportunity to meet with that group, which
is following up on the Unity Resolution from the 2004 General
Conference. Good News is awaiting word from the Task Force about such a
meeting in the near future.
The Good News leaders also expressed deep gratitude for the life,
ministry, and witness of Mrs. Diane Knippers, who died recently in
Fairfax, Virginia. Knippers, 53, had served from 1975 until 1982, on the
staff of Good News before moving to Washington, D.C. with husband, Ed, a
Christian artist. There, she joined the staff of the Institute on
Religion and Democracy (IRD). For the last 12 years, she served as IRD
President. “Diane was a widely-respected leader in the world of mainline
renewal,” said Heidinger. “She was a mature, deeply spiritual leader who
always had wise counsel for those of us who knew her and worked with
her. She was a great help to me in my first 12 months at Good News,
before she and Ed left for Washington, D.C. We are thankful for Diane.
She was `faithful until death.’ We shall miss her dearly.”
-
End -
Steve@goodnewsmag.org
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New Press
Methodist council set to rule on gay clergy
Houstonvoice.com, TX
Methodists in showdown
New
York Blade, NY
Methodist council set to rule on gay clergy
Washington Blade, DC
Methodist council set to rule on gay clergy Church appeals reversal of
lesbian minister’s conviction in Philly
By
EARTHA MELZER
May. 06, 2005
<snip>
During Stroud’s Dec. 2 church trial both of the bishops that she had
served under spoke highly of her. Bishop Peter Weaver who brought the
complaint against Stroud testified, “She actually is a very fine pastor
and a very fine human being,” and the she has a “strong sense of call to
ordained ministry, that is a sacrament. … And we are brothers and
sisters in Christ in a very profound way and she lives that with great
integrity.”
Parishioners from her church characterized her as an excellent person
and exceptional pastor. Rev. Alfred Day, her present senior pastor spoke
highly of her as a person who, “from the formation and foundations of
her soul loves God and loves the Church.” Multiple potential jurors were
disqualified from the jury pool when they said that they would not be
willing to set aside their feelings and convict Stroud if she was found
to violate church law against homosexuality. Stroud was convicted by a 7
to 6 vote.
Stroud had argued that the ban on gay clergy conflicts with the church
law against discrimination based on status.
<snip>
“Ultimately I believe the church will live up to the promises it makes
in its constitution and be inclusive of all people,” Stroud said. “The
church has been wrong and has changed before — in the case of slavery,
for example, and in the case of ordination of women. The church will
change again. The church has the resources to do what’s right.”
The United Methodist Church has a complicated approach to gay issues.
While the church does not allow openly gay clergy and has suspended and
deconsecrated pastors who have performed same-sex weddings, the church
says it welcomes gay parishioners, and supports civil rights for gay men
and lesbians including the right to serve in the military. In 1999 the
church declined to try a group of 69 Methodist ministers who gathered to
bless a union of two women in Sacramento, Calif.
Read More
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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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