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Washington, DC -- Responding to votes by leaders of the United Methodist
Church that called homosexual relations "incompatible with Christian
teaching," forbade ordination of openly gay or lesbian clergy and prohibited
same-sex union ceremonies, members of Dignity/USA expressed sorrow, and
pledged to stand with their Methodist brothers and sisters who work for
change in the church policy.
Leaders of Dignity/USA, the nation's leading advocate for gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgendered Catholics, said they understood the sense of
rejection gay and lesbian Methodists would be experiencing. "To have leaders
and members of your own church brand you as somehow bad, wrong and unworthy
is a very painful thing," said Mary Louise Cervone, president of
Dignity/USA. "In this case, it must have been especially hard, because there
were openly gay people and supporters in the room, face to face with the
people voting against them."
"It is very disappointing that the Convention chose to take a hard line
stance, one that will inevitably wound many of its members deeply," stated
Dignity's executive director Marianne Duddy.
"Ensuring that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are
treated with dignity, respect and a recognition of our equal status as
children of God should be a major concern of all religious communities,"
Cervone continued. "While this vote of the Methodist leaders represents a
temporary setback, it renews our commitment to challenge incomplete
theologyand dynamic, evolving issues of faith."
Duddy cited previous joint efforts between Dignity/USA and Methodists
who believe gay people should be able to be open in the church, including
joint publication of a Bible study guide on homosexuality. The two groups
will also both participate in a conference this summer focused on outreach
to the gay community by mainstream churches.
"All of us who struggle to remain faithful within our denominations have
witnessed both heartache and triumph in this fight," said Duddy. "This is a
moment of heartache for our Methodist sisters and brothers. But because we
all believe in Christ's resurrection, in the triumph of life over death, we
have the faith to work for the time when we can be open, when gay and
lesbian people called to ministry can freely serve, and when all churches
affirm
commitments between same-sex couples. We cannot see that day now, but we
know it will come."
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