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BY TIM TANTON and ERIK ALSGAARD
UMNS and UMCONNECTION

The United Methodist Church?s 'Supreme Court,' the Judicial Council, ruled Oct. 31 to support a pastor?s authority in a local church to determine who may or may not become a member, and reversed a lower court?s decision to reinstate a lesbian clergywoman.

The Council, meeting in Houston, Texas, issued its rulings Oct. 31.

In the latter decision, the Council reversed an appeals court ruling in the case of the Rev. Beth Stroud, and restored the original trial court ruling and verdict that had resulted in the minister losing her clergy credentials.

Stroud, an associate pastor at First UMC in Germantown, Pa., was convicted by a clergy trial court last December after stating that she was a practicing lesbian ? a violation of church law, which forbids the ordination and appointment of 'self-avowed practicing' homosexuals. The trial court revoked Stroud?s credentials, but a jurisdictional court of appeals set aside that ruling in April. The decision by the denomination?s top court restores the original decision.

In the first case, the Council was asked to rule on a situation at South Hill UMC in Virginia. The church?s senior pastor, the Rev. Ed Johnson, would not allow a man to join his congregation because he was a practicing homosexual. The man had been meeting with Johnson about transferring membership from another denomination.

Johnson was approached by both his district superintendent and Bishop Charlene Kammerer, and asked to reconsider his decision over a several-month process. When Johnson did not admit the man, he was placed on a yearlong involuntary leave of absence by fellow pastors during the clergy session of the Virginia Annual Conference last June.

The Judicial Council upheld Johnson?s action, citing the authority given to clergy by the church?s Book of Discipline.

The court ordered that the pastor be reinstated to his previous status.

Bishop John R. Schol, episcopal leader of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, issued a pastoral letter Oct. 31, the day the Judicial Council?s decisions were announced. The letter was e-mailed to more than 4,000 clergy and laity in the conference.

In the e-mail, the bishop offered several questions the decision raised for him.

? When grace and law are in conflict with each other, which side will we err on?

? If you believe homosexuality is a sin, do you want sinners to be a part of the community of faith or outside the community of faith?

? Will we now expect pastors to determine whether those seeking to join our churches are adequately repentant of all possible things a particular pastor might consider sinful? On what basis will pastors decide?

? Is full understanding of 'sin' or 'sins' a prerequisite for membership or is membership a step along the way in our journey?

? Should gay and lesbian laity be barred from membership in The United Methodist Church if they are willing in good conscience to take the membership vows and commit to follow Christ?

The bishop went on to say, 'I want you to know that I believe gay and lesbian persons should be welcome and received as members in our churches. I also believe that efforts to exclude people from membership for whatever reason are generally a bad idea. Congregations are places where all people can be loved into relationship with God through Jesus Christ.'

In a second letter, e-mailed Nov. 2, the bishop urged United Methodists to remember the ministry of hospitality.

'As pastors and laity, I am calling on you to model the open hospitality of Christ and receive all people, gay and lesbian, poor and wealthy, sinner and saint, young and old into our congregations. We are a church of grace.'

In addition to Bishop Schol?s letters, the Baltimore-Washington Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, meeting in a regular session Nov. 1, adopted a motion calling on the Council of Bishops to call a special session of General Conference to allow a time of conversation and clarification on the Judicial Council?s ruling.

The motion was communicated to the Council of Bishops while they were still in session. No action by the Council was taken on the request.

The effect of the court?s decision was felt while the Council of Bishops held its weeklong fall meeting, Oct. 30-Nov. 4.

The Council of Bishops issued a pastoral letter that said, in part, 'Homosexuality is not a barrier to membership.'

'With the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church, we affirm ?that God?s grace is available to all, and we will seek to live together in Christian community,?' the bishops said in the letter, quoting from the Social Principles in the Book of Discipline. The letter was adopted unanimously by the Council.

'?We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.? the letter said, quoting from the Discipline.

'We also affirm our Wesleyan practice that pastors are accountable to the bishop, superintendent and the clergy on matters of ministry and membership,' the bishops said.

'The invitation that this (Judicial Council) ruling gives to all of us is to think carefully about the meaning of United Methodist membership,' said Bishop Peter Weaver, president of the council and leader of the church?s New England Conference.

The ruling provides an opportunity 'to think about how we are inclusive of persons who are in our communities and how we make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,' he said.

Regarding a pastor?s authority to make decisions on membership, Weaver said: 'The local pastor does have authority, but it?s in the context of the theology and values of The United Methodist Church.'

NOTE: The full text of Bishop Schol?s letter, titled 'Called to model the open hospitality of Christ,' along with the Council of Bishops letter may be found at www.bwcumc.org.

Tanton is managing editor for United Methodist News Service.