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BY NEILL CALDWELL
United Methodist News Service

The United Methodist Judicial Council recently upheld three decisions of law issued by Bishop John R. Schol. The first decision dealt with the organizational plan of the Baltimore-Washington Conference; the other two addressed questions about transgender clergy. The council?s rulings confirmed that the conference is carrying out its ministry within the law of The United Methodist Church.

In combining two separate docket items related to the Rev. Drew Phoenix, pastor at St. John?s UMC in Baltimore, the Judicial Council stated that it was not ruling on whether changing gender is a chargeable offense or violates minimum standards set by the church?s legislative body, the General Conference. Rather, the court said 'a clergyperson?s standing cannot be terminated without administrative or juridical action having occurred and all fair process being accorded.'

'The adjective (in this case, 'transgender') placed in front of the noun 'clergyperson' does not matter,' the court stated in Decision 1074. 'What matters is that clergypersons, once ordained and admitted to membership in full connection, cannot have that standing changed without being accorded fair process.'

Because Phoenix is a clergy member in good standing, the ruling means Phoenix will continue to serve his church. But the subject of whether transgender clergy are eligible for appointment is likely to be among issues debated when the church?s General Conference convenes next April in Fort Worth, Texas. The United Methodist Church bars practicing homosexuals from being ordained but has nothing in its polity about transgender persons.

The Judicial Council, which issued its ruling Oct. 30, was responding to events that occurred at the 2007 executive clergy session of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference, which met in May.

At that session, a change of name was recorded for Phoenix, from the Rev. Ann Gordon, who was ordained in 1989 and had led the St. John?s congregation for five years.

Bishop John R. Schol assured the clergy, and later the lay members, of annual conference, that his actions and the actions of the Baltimore-Washington Conference in this matter were in keeping with the Discipline.

The bishop also reported that the congregation of St. John?s actively supported Phoenix?s leadership and that the church membership had quadrupled over the past few years.

However, two pastors requested clarification, requesting the bishop to issue rulings of law, one about the way the name change was reported and the other about whether transgender people are eligible for appointment in The United Methodist Church.

The bishop did so, finding that there is nothing in the church?s polity that prevents a transgender person from serving as a pastor, and that the name change was handled correctly.

All decisions of law made by a bishop are automatically sent to the Judicial Council for review, as required by the Book of Discipline. While combining the two questions into one ruling, the Judicial Council affirmed both of Bishop Schol's decisions. A clergyperson in good standing is 'required to be continued under appointment,' the council ruled. In regard to the name change, the council said all name changes 'regardless of the reason ? are to be placed in minute question 91.'

The Judicial Council also ruled on a third ruling of law from Bishop Schol, which was issued in 2006. The council declared that the new plan of organization of the Baltimore-Washington Conference is constitutional.

Following the ruling, Bishop Schol issued a statement to the people of the Baltimore-Washington Conference.

'I pledge to work with you to unify the church as we carry out our mission to become more like Christ as we call, equip, send and support spiritual leaders to make disciples of Jesus Christ and grow Acts 2 congregations,' he said.

'I invite you to be in prayer as we take the next steps toward carrying out our ministry through the organization of the conference and work with our pastors to strengthen the ministry of the church. We are United Methodists who follow Christ, Scripture and the Discipline and pray for God?s grace and understanding in the midst of each.'