A church trial begins today. Amy De Long, one of our pastors, performed a same-sex marriage and openly proclaimed her personal relationship with a female partner. She did so in the context of a church that has not accepted either condition as “appropriate” of a United Methodist clergy-person. And so we move forward with a church trial to decide her professional (but not her vocational) future. Amy has done what she believes in her heart and conscience is the right and just thing to do. Many agree with her; many do not. But setting aside the “issues” for a moment, a child of God, a sister-in-Christ, and a member of the family of humankind is going through a stressful and excruciating process of having not only her conduct, but her very personhood judged by the church she feels called to serve. I don’t care what an individual might feel about sexual orientation and the vagaries of human sexuality in general. I care little at the moment about the legalism of the Book of Discipline and a church that runs its most important business by parliamentary procedure law rather than Spirit-filled grace. What I care most about is that our Christian family is broken and that we are seeking ways to amputate limbs from our body. I am saddened that we cannot openly and honestly state our disagreement and discomfort, then commit to finding a way through, together. I have been praying regularly since last night and I will pray for grace, healing, harmony, kindness, mercy, justice, and generosity throughout the three days of trial. I invite any and all who love God and hold hope for our church to pray as well. This is not a time for posturing or debate; it is not a time to do further damage, but to ask that God’s grace might abound and be felt by all.
25 responses to “Invitation to Prayer”
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This is the most sane thing I have seen in this mess. Thank you again for calling us to be better than we are.
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As a former member of the Episcopal church I have seen this before. Some very smart people tried to find a way through without driving out some very committed members. They failed. This issue seems to be one of those where no middle ground exists. Once denomonational discipline is undermined the downward spiral starts.
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We certainly need prayer in all things.
We also need the courage to look at things as they are. From various statements from Rev. DeLong, it would appear that she didn’t have a sudden realization of her orientation but that she has known it and acted upon it for a long time perhaps at least back to her editorship with Tex Sample of their “loyal opposition” book back in 2000. She hasn’t served in a pulpit for a long time.
No one forced her to disclose her partnership nor did anyone force her to officate at a same-sex ceremony. She made those decisions of her own free will. This is an attempt at jury nullification which is only going to increase the temperature of the arguments around this issue. She knows that she is in violation of the Discipline. It is not the place of the trial court to substitute its judgement for that of General Conference.
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What Jeff said.
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Joining you in prayer… and adding to that prayer that if any body of Christian believers can work through this disagreement, I have to believe it is the United Methodists. I’m not sure why I have that hope so firmly embeded in my bones, but I do.
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If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1 Corinthians 12:26)
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Troubled, distressed, *sharing* the burden of a colleague. I too am praying.
FaithQuest Revisited 
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