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Journalism of Courage
A Methodist church in midtown Kansas City will stop performing traditional weddings this spring because United Methodist rules do not allow such services for gay and lesbian couples.
Instead of weddings, Trinity United Methodist Church plans to hold special worship celebrations for couples. Such services will not include wedding vows, but if couples wish, they can conduct their own vows elsewhere first, said the Rev Sally Haynes, the church’s senior pastor. The new policy grew out of the congregation’s desire to treat all members equally and still remain part of the United Methodist Church, Haynes said.
United Methodist rules forbid same-sex unions to take place in its churches or to be conducted by its ministers.
A ‘‘clear majority’’ of delegates to the church’s last general conference, held four years ago, approved the marriage definition, said Stephen Drachler, public information director at United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tennessee. ‘‘Like across society, there’s not unanimity on the issue,’’ Drachler said. ‘‘But the church’s position is clear. … Marriage is between a man and a woman’’.
Between 30 per cent and 40 per cent of Trinity’s members are gay or lesbian, said Haynes, who is married. The church has about 275 members and an average Sunday attendance of 140. At a congregational vote, 92 per cent of members favoured the new policy, Haynes said.
Reached by phone, the bishop who presides over Methodist churches in Missouri said she supported Trinity’s right to make worship decisions.
‘‘We rejoice that Trinity United Methodist Church serves a population that is underserved in the Kansas City area,’’ Bishop Ann B. Sherer said. ‘‘We want them to stay within the United Methodist Church and within the guidelines of our discipline.’’
The same-sex marriage issue has heated up in recent months.
Just this week, same-sex couples married in San Francisco, and a Massachusetts court recently ruled that it would be unconstitutional not to allow same-sex marriages.
Jamie Rich, director of the Lesbian & Gay Community Center of Greater Kansas City, predicted on Friday that more congregations would follow Trinity’s lead. ‘‘I haven’t heard of churches doing this outright, but it doesn’t surprise me,’’ Rich said.
However, one wedding already planned for spring will take place, but it will be Trinity’s last. No more traditional wedding will be held at the church until the United Methodist Church allows same-sex unions, Haynes said. — (NYT)
