It would seem that the Methodists have become an abomination by Biblical standards.
Minister Cleared in Lesbian Unity Case
5.50 p.m. ET (2251 GMT) March 14, 1998
CHICAGO - A Methodist pastor in Omaha, Neb., said Saturday that he will return to his ministry after being found innocent of breaking church rules by performing a lesbian unity ceremony.
The Rev. Jimmy Creech was the first Methodist minister ever tried for blessing a same-sex union, in a case reflecting the controversy among U.S. Protestant churches over how to consider homosexuality.
"The next step is simply to go back to my ministry at First United Methodist Church in Omaha and continue to try to be faithful to it,'' Creech said in an interview with Reuters.
Creech, 53, last September performed a union ceremony for two female members of his 1,900-member church. He was accused days later by another clergy member of disobeying a 1996 church rule against "ceremonies that celebrate homosexual union.''
United Methodism is the largest mainstream U.S. Protestant denomination and is struggling with issues related to homosexuality, as are the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches.
In November, Creech was suspended with pay from his pastoral duties and threatened with the loss of his position and his ministerial credentials.
On Friday, eight of 13 church members on a special panel voted that Creech had broken the rules, but nine votes were needed to convict him under the church's justice system.
Some members of the deeply divided congregation later said they could not remain in the church with Creech as pastor.
"They're going to decide whether they want to remain a part of the congregation. If they choose to ... I will be their pastor and continue to give them the kind of care and support that I will give everyone,'' Creech said.
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