Today I extended an invitation

Today I sent out a mss email inviting my fellow clergy to sign the Equality for all in Christian Marriage pledge. I am doing this campaign on my own. I don't represent any organization or group, official or unofficial, in The United methodist Church. I know I am not alone, however as past conversations and trainings I've atended have let me know that many other clergy agree with me that our immoral and unjust rules against gays and lesbians in The United Methodist Church, must end. I hope that my actions, and the signatures and actions of many other clergy will inspire The United Church, especially our bishops, to speak up for the rights of all our members, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Here is the email I sent today:

Hello friends,

I am writing to you because I think you might share my view that it is time to remove the harmful restrictions against gays and lesbians in the Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church.

Attempts to achieve this via legislation at General Conference have failed again and again. We seem to be no closer to achieving change as long as the African central conferences vote with the Southeastern jurisdiction against change.

African delegates made up about 30% of the current General Conference delegates. In 2016 that number could reach 40% and by 2020, it could be 50%. When the votes of the African delegates are combined with the Southeastern jurisdiction, they form an insurmountable majority-6o% against change and rising.

The Institute on Religion and Democracy does a good job of explaining the statistics: http://www.theird.org/page.aspx?pid=2428

In his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."
I think the time has come to disobey the unjust and hurtful restriction on same sex unions in The United Methodist Book of Discipline:
paragraph 341.6 "Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches."
paragraph 2702.1(b) "practices declared by The United Methodist Church to be incompatible with Christian teachings, including but not limited to: being a self-avowed practicing homosexual; or conducting ceremonies which celebrate homosexual unions; or performing same-sex wedding ceremonies;" (these are chargeable offenses with a six year statute of limitations according to 2702.4)

Paragraph 139 in the Discipline says that "We are called to be faithful to the example of Jesus' ministry to all persons." We can't do that when we are denied the opportunity to bless the holy unions of same gender couples.

We can bless dogs and cats but not gay couples. Does this make sense?

Our Discipline says "All persons regardless of age, gender, marital status or sexual orientation are entitled to have their human and civil rights ensured and to be protected against violence." (Paragraph 161 F)

We affirm civil rights for gays and lesbians in society but our Discipline denies them their right to have their union blessed in their church.

Yet, the Discipline says "Inclusiveness denies every semblance of discrimination." (Paragraph 139)

The following marriage pledge expresses our commitment to be in ministry for and with all persons by saying that we agree to marry any prepared couple without exception.

1200 clergy signers in 13 annual conferences across the US have used this statement or a similar one. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/methodists-to-debate-gay-clergy-and-same-sex-unions/2012/04/25/gIQAcAUUhT_story.html http://www.rmnetwork.org/act-now/altar-for-all/

Equality for All in Christian Marriage

Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference 2012

We joyfully affirm that we will offer the grace of the Church’s blessing to any prepared couple desiring Christian marriage. We are convinced by the witness of others and are compelled by Spirit and conscience to act. We thank the many United Methodists who have already called for full equality and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the life of the Church.

We repent that it has taken us so long to act. We realize that our church’s discriminatory policies tarnish the witness of the Church to the world, and we are complicit. We value our covenant relationships and ask everyone to hold the divided community of The United Methodist Church in prayer.

Any United Methodist person in the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference who conducts Christian marriages is welcome to sign. All signatures will be made public.

I have chosen to sign the Equality for All in Christian Marriage Statement and I belong to the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference.

If you would like to sign this statement, you can email me at jeffreyconn@hotmail.com and I will add your name to the list. You are affirming your right to marry any prepared couple regardless of their gender.

So far, 3 people and I have signed this statement.

I am seeking the Bishop's permission to read this statement at clergy session on June 7th, 2012 at annual conference at Grove City College.

I will invite clergy to sign the statement at that time and pass out fliers with the statement for those who want to think about it and decide later.

The purpose of this public statement is to let the United Methodists and others in Western Pennsylvania know that we are willing and able to be in ministry with them regardless of sexual orientation and that we will not be deterred by threat of punishment. I also believe that along with marriage pledges from the 13, and soon to be more, annual conferences across the US, we will encourage our bishops to state publicly what most of them believe privately, that our rules against gays and lesbians are immoral and they must be removed.

I haven't decided in what forum to make these signatures public so I am asking for your feedback. I believe a copy of the signatures and the statement should be sent to our Bishop. I will also seek to get an article in The Interlink about this statement. The Minnesote Annual Conference has an article about their clergy signing an identical marriage pledge and no names are mentioned. https://minnesotaumc.org/news/seventy-united-methodist-clergy-sign-pledge-to-offer-marriage-to-any-couple/ A further option for getting publicity is to contact the press such as Ann Rodgers-Melnick of The Post Gazette.

I also have a blog that discusses this marriage statement. efaicm.blogspot.com If you would be willing and able to create a website for this purpose, please let me know.

Your friend and brother in Christ,

Jeff