Lesbian Minister in PA defrocked.

Well I am finally siting around and putting my thoughts together on this whole issue:

The United Methodist spokesman for the IRD commended a United Methodist jury for finding the Rev. Beth Stroud to be guilty of “practices incompatible with Christian teaching” in a verdict released today.

Stroud publicly announced her active lesbianism last year in an open challenge to United Methodist Church law, which expects clergy to be celibate if single or monogamous in heterosexual marriage. Her defense at the trial, held outside Philadelphia, asked the jurors to make a pro-“gay” political statement by defying church law and finding Stroud innocent.

“It’s good news that a United Methodist court strongly upheld church law,” noted Mark Tooley, who directs the IRD’s United Methodist program. “This dramatically shows that the United Methodist Church is not going in the direction of the Episcopal Church. We will not surrender to the popular culture on matters of sexual ethics, which would result in the inevitable fracturing of our 8.3 million member denomination.”

In compliance with a ruling from the denomination’s highest church court, potential jurors who could not in good conscience uphold church law were asked to step aside from consideration. The verdict on Stroud’s guilt was 12-1.

During the trial, Stroud’s defense argued that because Stroud was well-liked and effective, that church law should be disregarded. Her defense counsel, himself a retired minister, told the jurors that ensuring “equal rights” for homosexual clergy was a “moral issue” that overrode other church standards.

But the retired bishop, Joseph Yeakel, who presided over the trial made clear to the jurors that they were bound to consider only the facts of the case and apply the church’s policies to these facts. Stroud, in her testimony, confirmed that she remains sexually involved with another woman, who attended the trial with her.

“In a culture awash with sexual confusion, which particularly affects the young, it is especially important for the church to make a clear witness about sexual ethics,” Tooley said. “We should expect this of our Christian leaders, especially our clergy."

So needless to say I am happy with the final ruling. I feel this person knew the rules and should have either chosen a different denimonation or a different lifestyle. I am sure I am going to get hate mail about it but it is the truth and sometimes the truth hurts people.

This is the official United Methodist stance on the issue of homosexuality.
"Homosexual persons no less than heterosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth. All persons need the ministry and guidance of the church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship that enables reconciling relationships with God, with others, and with self. Although we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching, we affirm that God’s grace is available to all. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn their lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons."

So basically we are upholding the current UMC law....now if only the real courts our uphold the law and not change it to fit their wims.