United Methodist bishops affirm church membership open to all
November 3rd, 2005 at 9:59 pm
By Tim Tanton*

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) - Homosexuality is not a barrier tomembership in the United Methodist Church, the denomination’s bishopssaid Nov. 2, two days after the church’s top court supported apastor’s refusal to allow a gay man to join.

“While pastors have the responsibility to discern readiness formembership, homosexuality is not a barrier,” the bishops said intheir pastoral letter to the people of the United Methodist Church.

In a ruling announced Oct. 31, the Judicial Council supported theRev. Ed Johnson of South Hill (Va.) United Methodist Church in hisdecision not to allow a gay man to join his congregation. The man wasa choir member and had been meeting with Johnson about transferringmembership from another denomination.

Johnson was placed on a yearlong involuntary leave of absence byfellow pastors during the clergy session of the Virginia Annual(regional) Conference last June. The Judicial Council upheldJohnson’s action, citing the authority given to clergy by thechurch’s Book of Discipline. The court ordered that the pastor bereinstated to his previous status.
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