Virginia pastor suspended for refusing membership to homosexual

By Jim Brown, AgapePress – July 7, 2005

(AgapePress) – A conservative United Methodist activist is speaking out against the suspension of a Virginia Methodist minister who refused to admit a self-avowed, practicing homosexual as a member of his congregation.

In June, Bishop Charlene Kammerer of the United Methodist Church (UMC) Virginia Annual Conference intervened in the case and declared that Pastor Edward Johnson was obligated to accept a homosexual man as a member of South Hill Methodist Church. After Johnson declined, Kammerer placed him on an involuntary leave of absence until he complies with her request.

Mark Tooley, director of the United Methodist Action Committee for the Institute on Religion and Democracy, says the suspension is disturbing on several levels.

“Most obviously she was compromising the ability of local clergy to make their own decisions as to whether or not someone is prepared to join the church,” Tooley asserts. “And United Methodist teachings do say that when you join the church, you are expected to uphold the beliefs of the church and to show repentance in your life.”

Tooley believes Johnson’s suspension could eventually be nullified. “This case … will go before the denomination’s Judicial Council, the top church court, at their meeting in October,” he notes. “So possibly, and maybe even likely, the Judicial Council will overturn Bishop Kammerer’s decision.”

According to Tooley, the homosexual man involved is proud and unrepentant of his sinful lifestyle, and seemingly wants to make himself a test case against the church’s teachings. That being the case, the IRD spokesman says Pastor Johnson was justified in denying the man membership.

Kammerer, whose conference is under the Southeast Jurisdiction (SEJ) of the UMC, chairs the SEJ’s “Connectional Table,” which governs the Lake Junaluska conference and retreat facility in North Carolina. According to Tooley, that facility will be hosting a four-day pro-homosexuality rally over Labor Day weekend, organized by the group Reconciling Congregations. The IRD spokesman describes that group as one committed to overturning the UMC’s teachings on marriage and sexual ethics.

Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.