Pastor Brian's Response to the Supreme Court Same-Sex Marriage Decision

This is a statement I read in church on Sunday, June 28th in response to the Supreme Court same-sex marriage decision.

I have prepared the following statement in response to the recent Supreme Court decision about same-sex marriage.  I usually do not comment on issues like this from the pulpit because I know and love many of you who are on both sides of this issue, I want to serve you as your pastor, and I want to focus us on more important, more pressing, and less divisive issues. My purpose in this statement is only to clarify how the Supreme Court decision bears on our life as a church and let you know a little bit about how this issue is unfolding in the United Methodist Church.  I have no desire to debate this issue, especially not from the pulpit in worship.  However, if you will express a desire to have a time to have this discussion, I will make myself available for that.  I will also be posting this statement on my blog and it will be printed in the August newsletter.

Let me begin by stating the official positions of the United Methodist Church.

161B on marriage: We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant that is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman... We support laws in civil society that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

161F on sexuality: ... The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching. We affirm that God’s grace is available to all. We will seek to live together in Christian community, welcoming, forgiving, and loving one another, as Christ has loved and accepted us. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.

304.3 ... The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self- avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.

341.6: Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.

To the relief of some, and to the disappointment of others, I am compelled to inform you that the recent Supreme Court decision does not, indeed cannot, have any bearing whatsoever on the positions, policies, and practices of the United Methodist Church.

These official positions can only be changed by the action of General Conference which will next meet in May of 2016 in Portland, Oregon.

There are many in the United Methodist Church that support the current position and many who support changing it.  Many have even chosen to directly disobey the policies of the church and this has resulted various disciplinary action for some.

The most recent efforts to change our position have taken the form of what is called "Third Way" or "Agree to Disagree."  This proposal would basically say that United Methodists do not agree about this issue and would allow individual annual conferences to ordain homosexuals, if the so choose, and would allow pastors and local churches to choose wether or not they would allow same-sex weddings.  The Iowa Annual Conference passed a resolution to General Conference, by a slim majority, endorsing the "Third Way."  Remember, however, this only means that the Iowa Annual Conference as officially endorsed the proposal; only General Conference can make these changes.

There is also much talk of splitting the United Methodist Church into two denominations, one "liberal" and one "conservative."

Personally, I am among those who agree with the current official position of the United Methodist Church and I oppose any change in that position.  I, and the churches I serve as pastor, will remain obedient the policy of the United Methodist Church, and, as I said before, the Supreme Court decision has not, and cannot, change that.

In closing, let me say that I know that there are many persons on both sides for whom it is my pleasure and privilege to be your pastor.  I am committed, and I invite you all to be committed, to being in ministry with all persons.  I will continue to love and serve all of you.  These are very difficult times for our society and for the church. I ask all of you, regardless of your position, to be loving and patient, both in person and online, with me, with others, and with the United Methodist Church until God shows us what the future will hold and his will for each of us and for his church.