CONTACTAbout UsCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Equal Entertainment LLC.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
United Methodists entering the final week of their national meeting have turned to the church's highest court for help enforcing a ban on the ordination of gays. Responding to a question from delegates, the Judicial Council released a ruling Saturday that church law clearly declares gay sex "incompatible with Christian teaching." The court said in its 6-3 decision that violations could lead to removal from church office. In light of that ruling, delegates directed the court to review the case of the Reverend Karen Dammann, a lesbian who was acquitted of violating church law by a jury in Bothell, Wash. Dammann had admitted she was in a relationship with a woman, and the March 20 verdict outraged conservatives. The court will release its decision on Dammann before the General Conference ends Friday. The gathering, which reconvenes Monday after a one-day break, is held every four years to set church policy and for decades has seen many contentious debates regarding gay clergy. No one expects the 8.3 million-member denomination to break apart over the issue. Delegates have consistently voted by large margins to reject proposals more accepting of openly gay clergy. That trend is likely to continue among this year's nearly 1,000 delegates. Still, conservatives say Methodists who disagree with church law have been ignoring it, and they have proposed giving the Judicial Council more power to intervene. If no action is taken, they warn, individual Methodists might leave their congregations or withhold donations in protest.
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Latest Stories
Colton Ford, legendary gay adult film star, dies at 62
May 20 2025 4:48 PM
Apple fined by Russian court for extremist 'LGBT content'
May 20 2025 11:59 AM
Remembering Frank Kameny: Here's why he was a gay rights pioneer
May 20 2025 5:30 AM
Apple's App Store removes queer cruising app Sniffies
May 20 2025 5:07 PM
44 photos of pure transgender joy and visibility at Trans Pride D.C. 2025
May 20 2025 11:45 AM
Pennsylvania, Texas lawmakers want insurers to cover detransition care
May 19 2025 6:05 PM