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Retired Clergy Rebuffed
Abstract: Bishop declares resolution of Methodist Annual Conference 'void'.
On July 17, United Methodist Church Bishop Beverly J. Shamana issued a ruling of law to declare a resolution of the California-Nevada Annual Conference "void and of no effect." The resolution (Item 21: Commendation of Retired Clergy Volunteering to Conduct Same-Gender Marriages), adopted by the annual conference on June 21, commended more than 60 retired clergy who offered to perform same-gender marriage ceremonies in the wake of the California court ruling that allows gay couples to marry. The bishop's ruling reads in part:
While the resolution is a commendable gesture to the congregations of the conference in offering the pastoral counsel of a number of retired clergy to persons contemplating same-gender marriage under the laws of California, it steps over a disciplinary line when it commends these clergy to the congregations for the purpose of 'performing same gender marriages or holy unions. It is not within the power or prerogative of an annual conference to offer the services of its clergy to perform acts which the General Conference has declared to be chargeable offenses against the law of The United Methodist Church
Speaking on behalf of the retired clergy, Rev. Don Fado, a retired Methodist pastor in Sacramento said:
Nothing has changed by the bishop calling the resolution null and void. As far as we're concerned, we're available, and the conference knows we're available, and we've made our witness and will continue to do so.
Anticipating the bishop's ruling, on July 17, in Harrisburg, PA, delegates to the church's Northeastern Jurisdictional (NEJ) Conference voted to support retired California-Nevada clergy who perform the marriage ceremonies. The NEJ resolution also asks for lenient disciplinary action against clergy who disobey church law on the issue.
