Lesbian Pastor acquitted of violating church law

Da Blonde Bombshell

It's news like this that makes me proud to be a United Methodist:

Lesbian Pastor Acquitted Of Breaking Church Law
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: March 21 2004 12:02 a.m. ET

(Bothell, Washington) In a decision that is expected to have far reaching implications for the Methodist Church, a pastor who declared she is a lesbian will not be removed from the ministry.

Church law prohibits the ordination of self-avowed, practicing homosexuals and the church's Book of Discipline declares homosexuality to be "incompatible to Christian teachings."

Reverend Karen Dammann came out to her bishop three years ago. At the time, the United Methodist clergy of the Pacific Northwest Conference voted to retain her. But the Judicial Council of the Nashville-based denomination reversed that decision last fall.

The trial pitted conservatives against reformers within the faith. As the proceedings got under way last week LGBT protestors attempted to block the doors of the Bothell church where the trial was to be held. More than 30 demonstrators were arrested. (story)

Following three days of testimony the jury of 13 pastors ruled in Dammann's favor.

The 47 year old has been on leave as pastor of First United Methodist Church in Ellensburg, 95 miles east of Seattle while the trial played out. Earlier this month she married her partner of nine years, Meredith Savage, in Portland, Ore., where officials have been allowing gay marriages. They have a 5-year-old son.

Some Methodist clergy Saturday said the ruling could reverberate through the Church in much the same way as the controversy surrounding the election of a gay bishop in the Episcopal faith.

The not-guilty verdict "will be shocking to most United Methodists, because there is no question about what the Reverend Dammann is doing," said the Rev. James V. Heidinger, president of Good News, a conservative renewal movement in the church. "It was assumed by most of us that we were just going through due process to make sure her rights were protected, but that she obviously was in violation of church law.