Beth Stroud Update: Hearing Date Set As a Reconciling Congregation, the First United Methodist Church of Germantown (FUMCOG) supports the full participation of gay and lesbian people in the life of the church. As a natural part of that mission, we have given our full support to our Associate Pastor, Beth Stroud, who has chosen to be open with the congregation and the larger church about her life as a lesbian in a covenant relationship with a partner. As a result of her decision, Beth has been involved in a process of supervision and consultation with Bishop Peter Weaver for the past year. That process has now moved into a judicial phase, with a hearing by the Committee on Investigation scheduled for later this summer. The purpose of the hearing is to determine whether there is enough evidence, under current church law, to send Beth’s case to a church trial. Such a trial could result in Beth losing her credentials as an ordained United Methodist minister. Since current church law is very narrowly written, Beth’s case will very likely be referred for trial. However, we are hopeful that the hearing before the Committee on Investigation will be an occasion for deep listening, learning, growth and change for everyone involved. All the members of the Committee on Investigation have received packets including Beth Stroud's April 27, 2003 sermon, related letters to the congregation, a personal statement from Beth, a legal brief written by Bill Ewing, and a thick stack of letters celebrating Beth’s ministry. Beth is being supported in the judicial process by a retired elder serving as her church counsel, the Rev. J. Dennis Williams, and a team of FUMCOG attorneys who are all working tirelessly on the case. FUMCOG’s leaders have assured Beth that her employment at First United Methodist Church of Germantown (FUMCOG) is secure, regardless of what happens to her ordination credentials.