The Methodists seem to be taking it seriously. They just defrocked a Lesbian minister who gave a "coming out" sermon to her congregation.

Ms. Stroud's Website, which includes a link to the sermon.

This is one of those divided issues for me.

On one hand I don't care who pokes whom, so long as it's not me without my permission.

On the other hand, she knew the rules before she joined the club.

It's a good indicator of what is wrong with a lot of policies in the world today. The disconnect between what is realistic and what is traditional.

[quote=Troubleshooter]On one hand I don't care who pokes whom, so long as it's not me without my permission.[quote]

HA! i've been looking for a new user title, if you don't mind, i'd like to adopt this, i love it! perfect.

Too long though

Knock yourself out.

Hey, wait. What's wrong with the one about washing stuff off your hands?

this thread is hilarious.

Prize a close tie between

and

That has long been my standpoint ... Ministers, particularly, are supposed to provide an example for the community. That's what makes it newsworthy when one of them falls (think Swaggert and the hooker).

On the other side of it, the Church must have known what they were getting into when she was ordained ... she went to Bryn Mawr, ferchrissakes. I haven't read through all her sermons, but I'm guessing that the "Coming Out" sermon wasn't much of a shocker to most of her congregants.

I still have issues with the American Episcopal Church, given their confirmation of a gay Bishop ... not because he's gay, but because he's in a active homosexual relationship.

Strictly speaking, you can be a (insert appropriate homo tag) so long as you are a celibate (insert appropriate homo tag). I don't think her sexual preferrence was in question, just the status of her relationships.

On the one hand, a church can kick anyone out for whatever reason they want. On the other hand, if you don't challenge the rules, they'll never change, and any organization that doesn't change with the times will die. I'm talking generically, not specifically about this case - just saying that challenging rules is a necessary part of any organization. This challenge didn't make it, but the 7-6 vote shows it was hardly a longshot.

Watch the United Church of Christ's Ad that is too controversial for TV. This is just ridiculous. I have a feeling the controversy will serve them well. Go Unitarians Go!

www.stillspeaking.com

The 7-6 vote was only on how to punish her, it was 12-1 I believe on her guilt.

The UCC and the Unitarians are different churches, at least on the surface.

Specifically, "Last Thursday I spoke with the Rev. John Thomas, president of the UCC, to offer my personal support and that of the Unitarian Universalist community."

I assume the problem with the ad was that the ones the guys at the start let through looked like rejects for a 50s poster for the nuclear family.

Well, she admitted it in the pulpit. She was obviously guilty. The punishment is what defines the rule. If they hadn't defrocked her, that would have changed the "no actively gay ministers" rule to "actively gay ministers are frowned upon" at most.