Dear Faithful America member,
In America's largest mainline protestant denomination, the United Methodist Church, pastors can be put on trial -- and even lose their ordination -- simply for marrying a gay or lesbian couple.
But more than 30 Methodist pastors in Pennsylvania have just announced they'll do exactly that, courageously risking their careers by co-officiating at a gay wedding next month.
Their fate will ultimately be in the hands of their local bishop, Peggy Johnson, who recently wrote that she favors marriage equality.
Now she has an opportunity to send a powerful message by disregarding the church's immoral and discriminatory rules and refusing to pursue formal charges against these pastors.
Let's show her that thousands of us are praying for her to help demonstrate God's love for our gay and lesbian neighbors.
Sign the petition to Bishop Johnson: Don't put pastors on trial for performing gay weddings.
These Pennsylvania pastors are part of a growing movement of United Methodists who are unwilling to obey the church's unjust rules.
Last weekend, Bishop Melvin Talbert became the first-ever Methodist bishop to publicly officiate at a same-sex wedding.
A veteran of the civil rights movement, he says it's time to begin practicing what he calls "biblical obedience":
"When I sat at lunch counters during the civil rights movement, I had to commit myself to non-violence as a way of life. I was prepared to offer my very life to draw attention to the injustices that were occurring. When we were jailed, the people in our communities came to our rescue. That is the very same response we need today."
If Bishop Peggy Johnson refuses to pursue charges against the Pennsylvania pastors, it could be the beginning of the end of anti-gay discrimination in the United Methodist Church.
Sign the petition.
Thanks!
-- Michael and Aaron
P.S. Our friends at the Reconciling Ministries Network are leading the fight for the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in the United Methodist Church. Visit their website to learn more.
No comments:
Post a Comment