I have grown from having Beth as our pastor.
08 Dec 2004
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Reflection from Nancy Tkacs of First United Methodist Church of Germantown |
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Cut your losses?
05 Dec 2004
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A sermon by Rev. Jim McIntire, Bala United Methodist Church
Jim was Beth's predecessor at First United Methodist Church of Germantown. Beth is a pastor to Jim's children. Jim is pastor to Beth's parents. |
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Our job is to try to walk in the footsteps of Christ.
05 Dec 2004
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A reflection by Michael C. Mahan, from First United Methodist Church of Germantown |
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There were no winners today.
04 Dec 2004
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Bishop John Schol writes to the Baltimore-Washington Conference |
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Grace was abundant.
04 Dec 2004
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Pastoral Letter from Bishop Marcus Matthews regarding the Beth Stroud Trial
December 3, 2004 |
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Reconciling Ministries network
04 Dec 2004
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The UMC has shamefully stripped the Rev. Beth Stroud of her credentials as
clergy. It is time for the UMC to stop the violence against gay and
lesbian clergy. Neither side questioned the validity of her calling to
ministry, neither side questioned the work of the Holy Spirit in her
ministry at First United Methodist Church of Germantown, neither side
questioned her baptism, her faith, or her love of Jesus that she so
readily shares. Both sides affirmed her as a sister in Christ, a
truth-teller, a role model of graciousness.
Yet, her faithfulness and honesty have been demeaned by the church. She
has been judged not based on her character but on cultural prejudice
heaped upon homosexual persons. The church has sinned.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Rev. Stroud is only one of
hundreds, if not thousands, of faithful United Methodist seminarians,
pastors, district superintendents and bishops who are gay and lesbian. It
is God who has called them to ministry in the United Methodist Church and
their integrity to this calling has blessed the Church.
Most United Methodists will nod knowingly when you talk about the gifts
and graces they have experienced from gay and lesbian clergy. The church's
refusal to honor the activities of the Holy Spirit through this
marginalized group of faithful servants is sin. It is blasphemy.
-Rev. Troy G. Plummer
RMN Executive Director |
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