Defying church ban, dozens of Methodist clergy come out as gay and lesbian

[cali]

Dozens of United Methodist clergy members came out as lesbian, gay or bisexual on Monday, defying their church's ban on "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" serving in ministry and essentially daring their supervisors to discipline them.

In a public letter posted online, 111 pastors, deacons, elders and candidates for ministry said church rules require "that we not bring our full selves to ministry, that we hide from view our sexual orientations and gender identities."

"While some of us have been lucky to serve in places where we could serve honestly and openly, there are others in places far more hostile, who continue to serve faithfully even at tremendous cost to themselves, their families, and yes, even the communities they serve, who do not receive the fullness of their pastor's gifts because a core part must remain hidden," the letter continues.

The self-outing came one day before the United Methodist Church, one of the nation's largest Protestant denominations, convenes its quadrennial General Conference in Portland, Oregon.

From May 10-20, more than 800 delegates will debate changes to church policy, including several that seek to lift longstanding bans on LGBT ministers and same-sex marriages. This is the first Methodist General Conference since the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2015.

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http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/09/living/methodist-clergy-lgbt/index.html

[closeupready]

1. Glad to hear it.

[NoMoreRepugs]

2. Kudos to the 111 who had the courage to come out...

hopefully it will encourage the others who didn't join them to do so at the conference and turn it upside down

[hamsterjill]

3. I respect their courage.

I'm sure this wasn't easy for many of them, but I respect that they did it. My hope is that this will be a step in the right direction to change the church's policy.

[allan01]

4. :)