Bishop expresses disagreement with March 20 clergy trial verdict

Bishop Joel N. Martinez expressed disagreement last week with the March 20 clergy trial verdict concerning a lesbian pastor in Washington state.
“First, I disagree with the verdict based on the clear statement in The Book of Discipline, Paragraph 304.3, which states: ‘Since the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church,’” Martinez said in “A Statement of Concern.”
That statement was posted April 16 on the Southwest Texas Conference Website.
A 13-member jury of elders in a Pacific Northwest Conference clergy trial found the Rev. Karen Dammann not guilty March 20 of “practices declared by The United Methodist Church to be incompatible with Christian teaching.”
The vote was 11 not guilty and two undecided.
Jury members acknowledged that Dammann, pastor of Ellensburg (Wash.) UMC, was a self-avowed practicing homosexual.
But the panel said it could not find a clear statement in The Book of Discipline declaring the practice of homosexuality incompatible with Christian teaching and making it a chargeable offense.
Instead, jury members said in a statement read after the verdict that they did find many other declarations about the church being open to all and denying any semblance of discrimination.
Martinez noted that a verdict in one annual conference trial sets no precedent for any other annual conference.
He called United Methodists in the Rio Grande and Southwest Texas conferences to show utmost respect for all church members and to pray for:
> The church.
> The April 27 to May 7 General Conference in Pittsburgh.
> The Council of Bishops.
> The mission of all Christians.
Martinez, president of the General Board of Global Ministries, was in Stamford, Conn., when the verdict was delivered. He presided over the mission agency’s March 19 to 25 spring meeting.
He issued the statement about the Dammann verdict after he returned to San Antonio.