The verdict against Rev. Frank Schaefer for officiating the wedding of his gay son will change the DNA inside the denomination of the United Methodist Church forever. Most likely he will lose his credentials and be defrocked, unless he promises to "never do it again" and adhere to The Book of Discipline. This ruling shook a lot of Methodist monkeys out of the trees.
And that's a good thing.
This was a long time coming and for many reconciling churches like my own Hollywood United Methodist Church in Hollywood, CA, we needed an inciting incident to get people angry. We needed someone to finally yank the gigantic, dusty tarp off and say, "yo, there is a humangeous pink elephant standing in the narthex.... what are we going to do about it!?"
You see, the issue isn't that the United Methodist Church doesn't accept the LGBTQ community. They do. You can be gay... you just can't get married by your pastor and if you're a gay pastor, that's fine too... you just can't "practice" being gay.
From my experience, I don't know any gay person who needs practice. Most everyone I know has got that on lock-down.
This is an issue that was loudly and vocally raised at the annual conference in 2012 and while many organizers tried to shut them down, it only inspired a slew of resolutions by churches (including Hollywood UMC), renouncing the statement that homosexuality is incompatible with Christ's life and teachings, affirming the worth of all lives, including those in the LGBTQ community, committing to building communities inclusive of hope and love for all people, and inviting other churches and people to join them.
You know... what Jesus would do.
HUMC's own Mark Stephenson and Jay Sowell created such a resolution, though it was not passed.
However, it was a step in the right direction.
It wasn't so long ago that the Methodist Church was forced to "adjust" their view on divorce from being a "grave sin" to "supporting marriage and allowing divorce."
The fact remains, some of the most successful and thriving congregations in the United Methodist Church ARE churches of reconciling ministries and who have embraced the LGBTQ community. They are churches who march for AIDS, weekly assist with their communities homeless, help rebuild homes as a result of devastating storms.
You know... what Jesus would do.
No one likes to go against an organization that is responsible for creating the "rules and regulations," the boundaries, or the blue prints for how your life is to be run, especially when it involves how we are expected to worship, what we are to believe and why.
This could very well cause a split in the United Methodist Church. The United Methodist Church was created in 1968. Only 45 years ago. And when it did, it had approximately 11 million members, by combining The Evangelical United Brethren Church and members of The Methodist Church. Protestants and Wesleyans coming together in the a time of war, the summer before Woodstock and 19 days after the death of Martin Luther King Jr.
Needless to say, it was a challenging time for our country.
But it was a time when people took a stand for what they believed in.
As I sit here, watching Twitter feeds and Facebook updates from friends and news outlets about the verdict, I sit here knowing this is the inciting incident that will change our history.
People needed to get angry.
In the 60s and 70s, people protested, They put their lives on the line for what they believed in. They chained themselves to buildings. They "sat-in" for days. They burned things and rioted. I'm not advocating violence or destruction, but I am suggesting we need to come up with actions bigger than a "march" for three miles through West Hollywood, ending at the Abbey for cocktails or tying up traffic in a intersection for a few hours.
We need to do more than tweet: "This verdict makes me sad. #SupportingSchaefer."
No, you're not. You need to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
People need to talk. Engage in conversation. Discuss. Educate. LIVE BY EXAMPLE. Help change opinions. Organize. Phone bank. Write letters. Attend meetings. Get involved.
You know... what Jesus would do.
I still find the line confusing: "incompatible with Christ's teachings and life" when Jesus never mentioned ANYTHING about homosexuality in the Bible. NOT A SINGLE WORD. He was more about teaching people to love one another and helping the poor and being of service.
So how that it is "incompatible" is beyond me.
My fear is that this verdict is only going to inspire people leave the church and if that is the case, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM. That's exactly what they WANT.
Many gay couples (who aren't even members of our church) have called to ask one of pastors to marry them in our sanctuary, now that Prop 8 is dead. As much as Rev Kathy would love to do that, she can't. If she does, what happened to Rev Schaefer (officiating the wedding for HIS GAY SON), would happen to her. And I'm not about to let our pastor sacrifice her ministry and work we have in LA county for a couple who have never even attended a service. So you can slam down the phone and write an angry email about how we are "unaccepting," (please...) or you can shut up, join the church and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
Churches like Hollywood UMC and St. Mark's UMC in Atlanta have very dedicated congregations working very, very hard to bring the change needed to the denomination. There are churches all over the country who NEED your support and your voice.
The people who support Love will either change the hearts of those within our own denomination or they will form their own new church. A church, I believe will undoubtedly flourish, because there are millions of LGBTQ people on this planet who WANT a church and to be a part of a community that gives back into the world and is "Christ-like," but simply can not find one that accepts them or treats them appropriately.
And money talks. Brass tacks, people... if those reconciling churches decide to leave the mothership, the United Methodist Church will suffer financially.
This will be a major hot button topic at the next conference. NOW is the time for people to take action and express their feelings. Now is the time for "Holy Anger."
And if you live in LA, get yourself to Hollywood United Methodist Church on Sunday. Belief in God isn't a requirement. Belief in love, community and justice is suggested.
