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Protesters, Judicial Council members worship together
May 2, 2006
By Neill Caldwell*
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (UMNS) — In an example of Christian unity, Judicial
Council members and individuals protesting recent decisions stood together to
receive communion and sing hymns during a service at the close of the council’s
meeting April 28.
As many as 50 protesters from across the country
attended the regular Judicial Council meeting in Overland Park and stood
in silent
vigil throughout the United
Methodist Church’s supreme court session. Some held placards with the
name of a council member for whom they were praying, and they were on hand
to lend their support to the appeals of two decisions made last fall regarding
a pastor’s authority to deny someone membership in a congregation.
James Holsinger, council president, issued an open invitation to the worship.
A number of the protesters, most wearing rainbow stoles signifying their support
for the gay, lesbian and transgender community, accepted the invitation and
crowded into the small meeting room at the Embassy Suites hotel where the Judicial
Council had been meeting.
The worship was led by the Rev. Myron McCoy, president of Saint Paul School
of Theology in Kansas City, Mo., and Bishop Fritz Mutti, who serves as bishop
in residence at the school.
Demonstrators included seminary students from
Saint Paul and Iliff School of Theology in Denver, residents from the Kansas
City metro
area, and others
from Washington to San Francisco. The peaceful demonstration was called a “witness” by
the Rev. Troy Plummer, executive director of the Reconciling Ministries Network,
a group pushing for broader inclusion of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender
people in the denomination.
Plummer worked with the Rev. Keith Boyette, secretary of the council, on the
logistics of the protest and invited council members to interact with those
present. Most of the members shook hands and chatted with demonstrators during
their breaks.
“It’s important that they’re seeing faces of faithful United
Methodists, longtime members who are part of this family and are praying for
their wisdom and discernment,” said Plummer. “Sifting through legal
briefs is an act of the mind; we’re hoping to engage their hearts.”
During the meeting, the council received a large stack of letters and postcards
from people on both sides of the reconsideration issue.
*Caldwell is a freelance writer based in High Point, N.C.
News media contact: Tim Tanton or Linda Green, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470
or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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