Methodist Pastor denies membership
to homosexual, gets canned
Methodist cleric suspended from pulpit
for 1 year for 'living out his conscience'
WorldNetDaily.com
A pastor who denied church membership to a homosexual has been banished
from the pulpit and denied his salary for one year by the Virginia
Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, despite the admission
he acted on his conscience and his action could be defended "in theory"
from the Methodist Book of Discipline.
Rev. Edward Johnson, former pastor of South Hill United Methodist
Church for the past six years, will appeal his suspension to the
denomination's highest court in Houston in late October.
The action leading to the pastor's "involuntary leave of absence" was
initiated by Rev. W. Anthony Layman, retired district superintendent
for Johnson's region in rural Southside Virginia, following Johnson's
December refusal to allow a homosexual man to join his congregation.
Layman told United Methodist News Service he and other conference
officials "did all we could do to help [Johnson] see the inconsistency
of his stance in his ministry" before filing a complaint against him in
April.
"I was trying to show him the church was open to receiving [the
member]," Layman said. "He, in turn, relied on his interpretation of
the scriptures."
Layman's complaint to a denominational board resulted in a recommended
one-year suspension for Johnson. The Virginia Conference approved the
recommendation for punishment on June 13 by a 418-114 vote, with eight
abstentions.
"For me, this was the last recourse," Layman said. "Johnson had two
opportunities to receive the person into membership himself or allow
the associate pastor to do it. He would do neither. It was this act of
insubordination that put him on notice."
"Our Social Creed says that we as a church would not ordain
homosexuals, but they have the right to be received in membership,"
Layman said. "The church supports homosexuals as part of the
congregation and as persons of definite worth.
"Johnson has deep beliefs around this issue," Layman said. "He is a man
of integrity who is living out his conscience."
The Methodist Book of Discipline directs congregations that membership
cannot be denied to anyone based on "race, nationality, economic
condition or status." According to Carole Vaughn, director of
communications for the Virginia Conference, Johnson could "in theory"
use his own judgment in deciding whether "status" applied to
homosexuals.
During the June disciplinary session, Bishop Charlene Kammerer was
questioned as to whether it was lawful for a pastor to "receive into
the membership of a local United Methodist church anyone who is able to
receive the vow, affirm the vow and promises to fulfill the vow, and
who, at the same time, acknowledges and impenitently practices
homosexual relations?" She did not answer the question directly, but,
according to the minutes, said the bishop and superintendents were
charged with giving guidance, as they had done in Rev. Johnson's case.
Kammerer also was asked if the language in the Book of Discipline gave
"Johnson the right and responsibility to exercise responsible pastoral
judgment in determining who may be received into church membership of a
local church." According to the minutes of the meeting, Kammerer ruled
"negative in this case."
By suspending Johnson, noted Vaughn, the church's leaders were vetoing
the pastor's decision.
"In a layperson's terms, it would be sort of like being temporarily
suspended," she said.
Gary Creamer, a member of Johnson's South Hill church, is standing
behind his former pastor and says many other members are as well.
"I feel Rev. Johnson was holding to biblical principle in denying
membership to that individual," Creamer told VaNCNews. "I feel
extremely sad and grieved. I feel a terrible injustice was done."
Creamer said the homosexual man at the center of the dispute had been
attending the church for some time and sang in the choir.
"This person was never discouraged from coming to church. That would be
un-Christian. However, actual membership would be another story," he
said.
"The church is not upholding the biblical principles outlined in
Leviticus, 2 Timothy and Corinthians about homosexuality and the sins
thereof," he added.
"I cannot see how you can take Holy Communion and openly practice that
lifestyle. The Bible says homosexuality is a sin. Now everybody sins,
but we like to think that everybody who is a member of the United
Methodist Church is attempting to repent of their sins. Openly
practicing homosexuality is not an attempt to repent of sins, in my
opinion."
The decision to suspend Johnson was done without taking the local
congregation into account, said Creamer.
"I just feel like the congregation as a whole was ignored," he said. "I
don't think anyone had any idea of the gravity of what was going on."
Bishop Kammerer confirmed Creamer's complaint the congregation was
excluded, saying clergy matters are not subject to local congregations'
input.
"He is accountable to the annual conference as a clergy member. He is
not subject to any one local church," she said. "As Rev. Johnson's
bishop, I wish he and his family well and pray for healing in the life
of the congregation in South Hill."
Johnson could, Kammerer says, be reinstated as a United Methodist
pastor in good standing if he fulfills recommendations from the
conference's board of ordained ministry.
Kammerer, whose Virginia Conference is under the Southeast Jurisdiction
of the United Methodist Church, chairs the committee that governs a
North Carolina conference and retreat facility slated for a four-day
pro-homosexuality rally over Labor Day weekend, organized by the group
Reconciling Congregations.
According to conservative Methodist activist Mark Tooley, one forum
will "explore the development of transgender and gender queer
spirituality" as well as the "sources of gendering." Participants are
encouraged to "come with a robust interest in all things gender,
whether or not they themselves are gender non-normative."
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