"Will California church officials uphold United Methodism's prohibition against homosexual nuptials?" -- UM Action Executive Director Mark Tooley
Contact: Loralei Coyle, 202-682-4131, 202-905-6852 cell, lcoyle@ird-renew.org; Radio Interviews: Jeff Walton, jwalton@ird-renew.org; both with The Institute on Religion and Democracy
WASHINGTON, July 24 /Christian Newswire/ -- Following the court-ordered legalization of same-sex marriage in California, a United Methodist clergywoman has begun performing such marriages for her congregants. Such unions defy the official teaching of the United Methodist Church, which says homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching" and bars pastors from performing same-sex wedding ceremonies or allowing them to take place in their churches.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Rev. Eileen Lindsay of Walnut Creek United Methodist Church performed marriages for three homosexual couples and signed their wedding licenses. She initially blessed the couples in her sanctuary and then later performed the ceremonies in a private backyard.
By violating the United Methodist Book of Discipline--church law--Lindsay places herself at risk of disciplinary actions that could ultimately result in her being defrocked.
The 7.9 million-member United Methodist Church officially prohibits any ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions and involve United Methodist pastors or church buildings. United Methodism affirms God's love and civil rights for all people, while also affirming marriage as the lifelong union of man and woman.
UM Action Executive Director Mark Tooley commented,
"The United Methodist Church is very clear in upholding the scriptural definition of marriage as man and woman. Will church officials in northern California uphold their ordination vows and the church's law?
"If Rev. Lindsay believes that she is obligated to marry homosexual couples, then, for the sake of integrity, she should transfer to another denomination that permits same sex unions.
"UM Action urges California-Nevada Conference Bishop Beverly Shamana to uphold the United Methodist Discipline and historic Christian teachings about marriage. Either Rev. Lindsay should resign, or the bishop should initiate disciplinary procedures."
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