From: Heather Wright Subject: PFLAG Offers Hope After Methodist Decision Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 13:01:10 -0400 May 15, 2000 Contact: Jay Heavner, 202-467-8180 x231, jheavner@pflag.org PFLAG OFFERS HOPE AND AN ALTERNATIVE TO DISHEARTENED UNITED METHODISTS Cleveland, May 13 -- "PFLAG members nation-wide offer our sympathy and join in the rising tide of bitter disappointment among United Methodist lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people who were rejected again by their church," said Rev. Paul Beeman, president of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). Beeman, of Des Moines, WA, is a United Methodist minister with a lesbian daughter and gay son. Beeman was among several hundred parents, clergy and other supporters, many of them PFLAG members, who had gathered in Cleveland to lobby for full recognition of gay members in their 8.5 million-member denomination. They talked with delegates, rallied and demonstrated, and many were willingly arrested. But the 992 delegates at their quadrennial General Conference closed their 11-day session in Cleveland May 12 after rejecting every request. They turned down ordaining openly gay clergy, blessing same-gender holy unions, and voted to retain their 1972 statement that "homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching." While Beeman expressed bitter disappointment in the anti-gay action of his own denomination, he pointed with gratitude to the one-third of delegates and the many bishops who support and welcome GLBT people. He also praised positive steps among Reform Jewish rabbis, the United Church of Christ, and many Disciples of Christ, Lutheran and Episcopal bodies. "While the church trails behind, the rest of society is advancing rapidly toward full welcome of gay persons," Beeman said. "Your denomination and local churches may reject you," Beeman said, "but in all of PFLAG's more than 440 local chapters and affiliates across the country, you have a home, a family of loving acceptance, and a venue to work for social change." PFLAG chapters offer a range of programs, from support group meetings to Safe Schools advocacy programs. Both the Episcopal and Presbyterian national organizations will be debating gay issues in their national meetings in the next few weeks. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families & friends through support, education, and advocacy. Serving more than 80,000 members & supporters, PFLAG's 443 affiliates are located in communities around the U.S. ## PFLAG 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~