United Methodist bishop may face trial for presiding at gay wedding

[hrmjustin]

Renee K. Gadoua

(RNS) Complaints have been filed against a United Methodist bishop who presided over a same-sex wedding of two men in defiance of his denomination’s rules prohibiting such ceremonies.

Retired Bishop Melvin G. Talbert is the highest clergyperson to have broken the church’s official laws and the only known bishop to do so.

He officiated at the Oct. 25 union of two men in Birmingham, Ala., even after the local bishop and the executive committee of the Council of Bishops urged Talbert not to go ahead with the ceremony.

Days later, the denomination’s Council of Bishops requested complaints be filed against Talbert

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/03/13/united-methodist-bishop-may-face-trial-presiding-gay-wedding/

[PSPS]

1. How dare he not exhibit the requisite amount of hatred! He gave gawd a sad!!1!

[oldandhappy]

2. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

United Methodist people, do not let your 'authorities' be more interested in rules than people.

[Iggo]

3. Church trials.

[hrmjustin]

4. They are actually common in some denominations butbthey usually are aimed at clergy.

[LiberalAndProud]

5. In the Methodist church, always at clergy.

If this Bishop is defrocked, he will lose his pension and health insurance. It's not a small thing. He did a very brave and selfless thing to try to change his church from within. He has earned my respect.

[hrmjustin]

6. I hope that cooler heads prevail and they just give this up and leave him alone.