What Can
Pastors Do?
Bishop Julius C. Trimble
June 1, 2016
Some people have asked, “What
can and should pastors do, given the action regarding human sexuality at the
2016 General Conference of The United Methodist Church?”
I believe pastors have
already been providing pastoral care, welcome counsel, and guidance to all
persons in their local churches and mission field.
Even though same-gender
weddings have been legal in Iowa since 2009, if annual conference pastors are
asked to officiate a same-gender wedding, our answer is “No, I am not permitted to as a United Methodist clergy.” To be clear, it is not a chargeable offense
to be present at a same-gender wedding or celebration.
Many United Methodist
clergy have Episcopal, Lutheran, United Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ
and Presbyterian Church (USA) colleagues they call upon when same-gender
couples seek to be married by clergy in church or other venue weddings.
We are called to love,
respect and affirm all of the people of God.
This includes clergy and lay in The United Methodist Church who have
come out as LGBTQ, prior to our recent General Conference.
In accordance with the Book of Discipline, 2012, we have chosen
to follow the “just resolution” process.
I believe that all are “children of God” and deserve to be heard and
taken seriously and that is the way I have approached complaints when they have
arisen. I understand one of my roles, as
bishop, is to provide pastoral oversight.
We have not had a church trial in eight years. During that time some have exited ministry or
have left The United Methodist Church.
In this time period
between General Conference 2016 and the completion of the work of the
yet-to-be-organized Council of Bishops commission, I encourage and invite all
concerned United Methodists to a season of prayer, study and conversation. Human sexuality, existing disciplinary
language, matters of ordination, presiding at wedding ceremonies, and questions
about a more inclusive church are all subjects that can be addressed in a
variety of settings. The Board of
Ordained Ministry, Order of Elders and Deacons, Fellowship of Local Pastors,
Board of Laity, or district conversations, for example, are places where we can
talk about the questions of what unites us and how we engage our differences.
I remain a prisoner of
hope.
Be encouraged.