Human Rights Campaign Responds to Discriminatory Measure Affirmed by Methodists

Colleagues in Christ,

You have all been in my heart and in my prayers (and in the prayers of my staff colleagues at HRC) over the last several weeks. Thank you for the powerful witness you have made for the expansive, inclusive, unconditional, extravagant welcome of Jesus Christ. Your work - from handing out pamphlets to making major strategic dicisions - has been a continuous prayer of both petition and praise to our Creator.

I am heartbroken, as are my colleagues at HRC, by the spiritual violence done this week to lesbian and gay people by the United Methodist Church, the denomination in which I once pastored, my parents were married, my nieces and nephews baptized, and out of which my beloved grandmother was buried last June.

Nevertheless, because of your hard work, the church has committed itself to working for civil rights protections for LGBT people and has explicitly rejected discrimination against transgender people. 

Therefore we expect and call on the Bishops of the United Methodist Church and local UMC pastors to speak out publicly in support of a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Mathew Shepard Hate Crimes Protection Act and we will be offering them many opportunities to do so, especially at Clergy Call 2009.

We will work with you to call the church to live into its commitment in tangible ways and thus to continue your work to make justice a reality with which the policies of the denomination will someday be reconciled.

You all are heroes to me and to my colleagues Sharon Groves and Kyla Bollens-Lund of the HRC Religion and Faith Program. We pray for your personal peace and health in gratitude for your witness on all our behalf.

Harry Knox, Director
Religion and Faith Program
Human Rights Campaign Foundation

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Press Release:

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today responded to the United Methodist Church’s decision to reaffirm homophobic language which says homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching and its failure to reverse a decision by the church’s Judicial Council to allow pastors to reject lesbian and gay people who seek membership in the church.  The vote, which passed by a margin of only 84 votes out of more than 900 cast, reaffirmed discriminatory language in the Discipline of the United Methodist Church and failed to counteract an earlier decision by the denominations judicial body.  The vote was taken on Wednesday, April 30, at the United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.  Separately, the church voted against anti-transgender legislation and voted to oppose "all forms of violence or discrimination based on gender, gender identity, sexual practice or sexual orientation."

The following statement is by Harry Knox, director of the Human Rights Campaign’s Religion & Faith Program:

"I am heartbroken, as are my colleagues at HRC, by the spiritual violence done to lesbian and gay people by the United Methodist Church, the denomination in which I once pastored, my parents were married, my nieces and nephews baptized, and out of which my beloved grandmother was buried last June.

Nevertheless, the church has committed itself to working for civil rights protections for LGBT people and has explicitly rejected discrimination against transgender people.  Therefore we expect and call on the Bishops of the United Methodists Church and local UMC pastors to speak out publicly in support of a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Mathew Shepard Hate Crimes Protection Act and we will be offering them many opportunities to do so, especially at Clergy Call 2009."

To learn more about the HRC Religion & Faith Program, visit: www.hrc.org/religion.

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Human Rights Campaign Responds to Discriminatory Measure Affirmed by Methodist Church
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Comments

[Stephen Elliott]

My life's. it's temper be- murdered cold-blooded - is what we used to see // I ain't been home for many a night -and now my life - it includes all who be.// Going by my last scars - put the vast truth on - pray to God on high - I may end up finding some kinda "funny" - but that's completely right. / Basic rights are in jeopardy- judgement, double-standards - diffusion, who you think you be? // Can't you know what's God's proof - pull your deaf-mute's off - and not f**k with lives? // You may end up spending all your money- but you shall be the wise. // My life- with or without your decree- it's time to realize ALL are welcome - They're who HE wants them to be. I P.S.> I don't know why I can show you this stuff when I have only ever shown it to my daughter? I must trust you and welcome you to where few tread anymore- my life. As Always, Love and Peace- Stephen Elliott
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