WASHINGTON — An openly gay Methodist pastor accused of “practices ... incompatible with Christian teachings” was acquitted by a jury of 13 fellow ministers on March 20.
The Rev. Karen Dammann, a former pastor of Ellensburg (WA) United Methodist Church, could have been defrocked for telling her bishop in 2001 that she was living in a “partnered, covenanted, homosexual relationship.”
But the jury found her not guilty — even though the church’s Book of Discipline forbids “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from serving as clergy.
“We searched the Discipline and did not find a declaration that ‘the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching,’” the jury said in a statement.
The panel said it found no “clear and convincing” evidence that Dammann was violating church law with her partner, Meredith Savage. Jurors pointed to other church statements calling for inclusiveness and prohibiting “every semblance of discrimination.”
The decision is likely to influence debate at the Methodists’ upcoming quadrennial General Conference, which will convene in Pittsburgh on April 27.
“For the church it means a beginning of another stage of struggles, and I’m mindful of that,” Dammann told The New York Times. “This is going to be painful.”
Conservatives were outraged by the verdict.
“It was assumed by most of us that we were just going through due process to make sure her rights were protected, but that she obviously was in violation of church law,” said the Rev. Jim Heidinger, president of the evangelical Good News movement.
Another Methodist pastor in San Francisco, the Rev. Karen Oliveto, is likely to face trial for marrying a gay couple who had a civil marriage license. Church law says gay unions “shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.” |
