Methodist court hears gay minister case

October 28, 2005|Associated Press

HOUSTON -- A lesbian Methodist minister in Pennsylvania should retain her ordained status because defrocking her would amount to discrimination and would contradict the inclusiveness that the church preaches, representatives of the minister argued yesterday before the church's Judicial Council.

The nine-member council, seven of whom attended a hearing at First United Methodist Church in Houston, deliberated the case of Irene ''Beth" Stroud with plans to rule on Monday. The Judicial Council is the highest court in the United Methodist Church, the nation's third-largest denomination.

In December, a church panel found that Stroud, 35, violated a ban on ''self-avowed, practicing homosexual" clergy.

The decision was overturned and then appealed to the Judicial Council.

Alan Symonette, who is representing Stroud, said the church is in effect asking gays and lesbians to deny their sexuality to serve as ordained ministers.

''We contend this is discrimination based on status," he said. ''This United Methodist Church is an inclusive church.

''Beth Stroud has been called into the ministry," Symonette said.

The Rev. Thomas Hall, acting as prosecutor, said that if the council decides in Stroud's favor, it will cause confusion throughout the denomination.

''What is at stake in this appeal is the ability of the church to uphold its own laws," Hall said. ''If we lose, everybody loses."

Stroud, who became an associate pastor at Pennsylvania's First United Methodist Church of Germantown in 1999, said she never disclosed her sexual orientation in documents related to her ordination but did not keep it a secret.