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Integrity applauded, choices questioned

I?d just like to say that all Methodists should thank God for the integrity of Beth Stroud in coming forward with her lifestyle choices. Secrets can cripple a person, or even a church (as we have seen in the Roman Catholic Church), and Christian leaders should be encouraged toward integrity and honesty.

We have no secrets from God, and in community, we should not hide the choices of our heart from one another because trust and honesty are a testament to our love and respect for each other.

It should not be surprising to us that God has blessed a homosexual with ministerial gifts. Without integrity, these gifts are diminished and trust is at risk.

My prayer for Ms. Stroud is that she finds joy and peace wherever she chooses to be, and that she find a way out of a homosexual lifestyle, which cannot be pleasing to God.

Mike Goins
Annapolis District United Methodist Men

Thanks for including us

I just wanted to thank the conference for including those of us who are serving in the larger, global community in the communications on disaster relief. It means so much to be included and feel a part of the BWC family.

We have several Indonesians and folks from Southeast Asia in our congregation here in London, so the tsunami disaster really hit home here. Our congregation took a special offering on Jan. 2 and we will continue to do so in the weeks ahead.

Be assured that, even though I am presently serving in Europe, I will be praying for the Baltimore-Washington Conference as together we seek God?s direction and vision for the conference.

Rev. Steve Rettenmayer
The American (International) Church in London

Documentary indicts church

The recent showing of the PBS documentary film, 'The Congregation,' was a double indictment of The United Methodist Church.

The congregation in this case was a United Methodist church in Germantown, Pa., to which a pastor was appointed following one who had served there for 37 years. The new pastor, subjected for three years to the abuse of parishioners reacting to change, has asked not to be re-appointed. In the meantime, the associate pastor revealed publicly that she was a lesbian in a covenant relationship with another woman. This revelation led to her being tried and convicted by an ecclesiastical court and ordered to surrender her ministerial credentials.

The first indictment of The United Methodist Church is that it does not provide for interim pastors, specially trained to work with congregations grieving the loss of a pastor who has served for 10 or more years. The interim pastor would enable the congregation to work through the strong feelings associated with loss and change, and prepare parishioners for a new, regular pastor.

The second indictment is that The United Methodist Church prohibits 'self-avowed, practicing homosexuals' from serving as pastors, even though they have been called by God to that ministry. The suffering of clergy and laity at First UMC in Germantown could have been alleviated by having had an interim pastor, and by the continued ministry there of a well-loved associate pastor who happened to be gay.
When will The United Methodist Church end the suffering of congregations and pastors by providing proper interim leadership and by becoming truly inclusive?

Rev. Cliff Harrison
Retired