From: Heather Wright Subject: PFLAG News: Encouraging Verdict in Methodist Investigation Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 10:48:38 -0500 February 15, 2000 Contact: Paul Beeman, President, at 206/799-4560 or Kirsten Kingdon, Executive Director, at 202/467-8180, ext. 215 PFLAG NATIONAL PRESIDENT ENCOURAGED BY VERDICT IN METHODIST INVESTIGATION OF CLERGY WHO PERFORMED SAME-GENDER HOLY UNION (Washington, DC) A United Methodist Committee on Investigation may have set an example for the entire nation in dealing with issues of gay rights and religion, according to the Rev. Paul Beeman, President of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). The committee, in California, decided that 67 clergy will not be tried on charges of disobedience for co-celebrating a same-sex union for a lesbian couple last year. The blessing of the union was contrary to the United Methodist Judicial Council's ruling which confirmed the church's prohibition forbidding clergy from conducting such services. Earlier, Jimmy Creech of Omaha, and Greg Dell of Chicago, were found guilty of performing same-gender holy union ceremonies and were stripped of their ordinations. Rev. Creech will be a featured speaker at PFLAG's National Conference to be held in Washington, D.C., April 28 through April 30, 2000. According to Beeman, himself an ordained United Methodist clergyman and the parent of lesbian, gay and straight children, the committee's investigation plowed new ground, ethically, politically and theologically. "The inescapable conclusion is that the committee investigated not only the actions of the accused clergy, but also the stance of the United Methodist Church. It was the stance of the denomination which was found wanting." "What the committee did can be a model for the rest of society," Beeman declared, noting the widespread difficulty the entire nation has dealing with issues of human rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons. "As Americans, we need to examine our total life together in freedom and equality, as the committee did by insisting on a methodology consistent with their common faith, rather than focusing narrowly on a specific and fairly new church law." Beeman concluded that, "As a nation, it is critical that we find our unity in our common commitments --to democracy, to justice and to equality for all our citizens." ## Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends. Serving over 77,000 members and supporters, PFLAG affiliates are located in 435 communities across the United States and abroad. 1726 M Street, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 467-8180 Fax: (202) 467-8194 E-mail info@pflag.org Web: http://pflag.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ to unsubscribe from PFLAG's Email Alert List, send an email, subject line "unsubscribe" to info@pflag.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~