;'.-i- ‘ JttUSdi£bkbm :^m PERSPECTIVE General Gayety by Leslie Robinson . Contributing Writer Religious rebels Here in 2008, it’s old news that mainline Protestant denominations are struggling-inter- nally over homosexuality. But the big gay news item of the year, the California Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a ban on same- sex marriage, has ratcheted up the conflict within at least one denomination. The United Methodist Church is lately looking more untied than united. A story in The Los Angeles Times described how “scores” of Methodist ministers in California have conducted or plan to conduct same-sex weddings, in open disregard of church rules. In other words; Methodist ministers are making matrimonial mischief. Miscreants are misbehaving by marrying members, making a mockery of Methodist mandates. Mercy. The denomination’s “Book of Discipline” lives up to its austere name, at least where gay ness is concerned. It maintains that the prac tice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. So “ceremonies that cele brate homosexual unions shall not be con ducted by our ministers and shall not be con ducted in our churches.” However, the book also says “certain basic human rights and civil liberties are due all per sons. We are committed to supporting those rights and liberties for homosexual persons.” We won’t marry you. But, we will support your right to breathe oxygen. While the United Methodist Church’s international governing body reaffirmed the book’s language on gay ness last spring, soon afterwards California’s two governing bodies took a different view; declar ing support for the state Supreme Court’s ruling. The Southern California Methodist leaders officially recognized the need for clergy and congregations to make marriage available to everybody. Hold on to your hymnal, Bertha, it’s a Methodist mutiny! The Northern Californians praised 82 retired pastors who signed a resolution offer ing to perform gay weddings on behalf of _^mlnisters who fear doing it themselves. “We are willing to put our professions on the line because this is so central to our ministry^’ said retired minister Don Fado, 74. He might lose financial benefits and his clerical creden tials, but his conscience will be spick-and-span. The active ministers performing gay mar riage ceremonies risk losing their jobs and clerical credentials. All so their church will live up to its slogan: “Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.” It’s a surprising slogan, given the Methodist view of gayness. At present a more accurate one would be “Open hearts with car diovascular issues. Open minds between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Open doors with a bouncer lurking behind them.” “I’m tired of being part of a church that lacks integrity^’ said the Rev. Janet Gollery We bay interesting & worthwhile used books & Compact Discs. 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We’ll also see whether the change in California state law hastens a change in church law. And, whether other mainline denominations find them Rhodes-Wickett of Claremont United Methodist Church. Two men, together 40 years, had been members of her congregation for 22 years. She didn’t want them to go elsewhere to marry. She and a retired deacon co-officiated the ceremony, held at a complex for retired clergy so as not to break the rule about gay unions in churches. Rhodes-Wickett led the Lord’s - Prayer and provided the homily, but didn’t pronounce the men married, in order to avoid Although some Methodist ministers are breaking the Book of Discipline to bless sanie-sex unions, the denomination is holding fast to its traditional stands. Soulforce, an interfaith organization working to combat religious prejudice, gathered for their own 10 year anniversary, conference and direct action in Ft. Worth, Texas, at the same time as the United Methodists convention. Photo Credit: Soulforce selves in the same dilemma or will it be just the Methodists in California who don board- shorts and surf a wave of defiance? Then there’s the sort of compromise approach recently taken by the Rev. Sharon discipline. The deacon did that and signed the marriage license. Completely understandable. But gymnas tics are for young people. I info: LesRobinsn@aol.com .www.GeneralGayety.com ' Keelee J. MacPhee, M.D. SPECIALIZING IN MALE, FEMALE AND TFIANSGENDER RECONSTRUCTION OF THE FACE, BODY AND BREAST RENAISSANCE Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, PA Keelee J. MacPhee, M.D. 919.341.0915 REX MEDICAL PLAZA RALEIGH, NC RALEIGH'S ONLY FEMALE PLASTIC SURGEON WWW.renaissanceNC.com AUGUST 9.2008 • Q-NOTES I I

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