ST. CHARLES, Illinois -- As Northern Illinois United Methodists today voted to end discrimination against LGBTQ persons in the denomination by sending petitions to next year's global gathering, over 160 clergy have committed themselves to "equality for all in Christian marriage and civil union." 166 (as of this writing) Deacons, Elders, and Licensed Local Pastors signed their names to a statement which "joyfully affirms that we will offer the grace of the church's blessing to any prepared couple desiring Christian ceremonies for civil unions or marriage."
"We are convinced by the witness of others and are compelled by the Spirit and conscience to act," the statement reads. Further, the statement celebrates the civil recognition now available to same gender couples in Illinois as Civil Unions went into law June 1.
"We believe the United Methodist Church's discriminatory policies tarnish the witness of Christ's love and justice to the world," says Rev. Gregory Gross, United Methodist Deacon and Clinical Manager of HIV Testing and Prevention at the Center on Halsted in Chicago. "This group of clergy is committed to ministry with all persons," says Gross, "and all means ALL."
The group of clergy who support equality for all cite the ministry of Jesus as their example. "Jesus told his disciples to 'love one another as I have loved you,'" asserts Rev. Bonnie Beckonchrist, Lead Pastor of First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights. "As we teach people about how God is revealed in Jesus, we are called to teach that no one is left out," she says.
"Clergy committed to equality for same-gender couples believe that to wait another year for the global denomination to act puts at risk those young LGBTQ persons who are discriminated against because the Gospel message has been used as a bullying weapon," says Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston.
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung today issued the following Statement on the UMC and Civil Unions: "I applaud the work of the Illinois Legislature and Governor Quinn as the State of Illinois has offered validation and inclusion through Civil Unions to those who have long been marginalized. While the state has legalized Civil Unions, the United Methodist Church's governing book of law, the United Methodist Discipline, continues to prohibit ordained clergy from conducting Civil Unions for same-gender couples. Ordained clergy vow accountability to the laws of the church and are bound by that vow. Signing a Statement of Intent to Perform Civil Unions as some clergy in the Northern Illinois Conference have done, does not violate the church's law. The global United Methodist Church lives in the tension of differing understandings of sexuality as we reflect many diverse cultures and countries.It is a painful, dividing conversation, that calls for patience, respect, grace and a willingness to struggle together as we hold one another in prayer and community. I continue to hold our brothers and sisters across our connection in prayer as we seek God's guidance for direction concerning this sensitive matter."
"Our conversation does not intend to divide," says Rev. Lois McCullen Parr, Pastor at Broadway United Methodist Church in Chicago, "but rather to stretch and expand the love and justice of the church." Parr says the clergy has been in conversation as colleagues to give one another courage to be bold, prophetic leaders.
"We cannot continue to see young people whose very lives are at stake receive the language of condemnation of our United Methodist denomination," says Rev. Dr. Marti Scott, Pastor ofEuclid Avenue United Methodist Church in Oak Park. Scott says the clergy group refuses to be part of that condemnation: "we are compelled by the love of God to send a message of hope to the world." The clergy believe their signatures are a sign of that hope.
Northern Illinois clergy join the over 70 Minnesota clergy who took the same action last week at their annual meeting; New York clergy are also gathering signatures this week at their regional gathering.