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BOTHELL, Washington (AP) -- Despite efforts by dozens of protesters to block it, the United Methodist Church trial of an openly lesbian pastor got under way with one witness warning clergymen not to "replicate the crucifixion of Jesus."
Dozens of supporters of the Rev. Karen Dammann were arrested Wednesday in this Seattle suburb as they tried to block the start of the trial before a church panel that will determine whether she should continue her ministry.
Dammann, 47, is charged with "practices declared by the United Methodist Church to be incompatible to Christian teachings." Church law prohibits ordination of self-avowed, practicing homosexuals, although the
hurch's social principles support rights and liberties for homosexuals.
Dammann is on leave as pastor of First United Methodist Church in Ellensburg, 95 miles east of Seattle. Last week she marrie
d h
er partner of nine years, Meredith Savage, in Portland, Or
egon, where officials began allowing gay marriages earlier this month. The couple has a 5-year-old son.
Dammann has pleaded not guilty. One of her first witnesses Wednesday was Mary Ann Tolbert, a professor of biblical studies at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, and executive director of its Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies.
Tolbert said the church is inconsistent in how it applies its Book of Discipline. At one time, for example, divorce was not allowed, but the church has since changed its stance, she said.
"It seems to me that, with all due respect, you are acting as a hypocrite," she said.
Tolbert reminded the jurors that Jesus was killed because he disagreed with the religious no
rms of his time.
"We have to be very careful, you have to be very careful, that you don't replicate the crucifixion of Jesus in what you do," she said.
In an opening statement
, Dammann&#
39;s church counsel, the Rev. Bob Ward, compared the struggle of gays and lesbians with the s
truggle that women and minorities had in gaining rights.
The difference, he said, is that "with gays and lesbians, they are encouraged to hide, as we have adopted a policy of 'don't ask, don't tell."'
"Karen has chosen not to live the lie," Ward said.
But the Rev. James Finkbeiner, representing the church, called on the jury to find Dammann guilty of the charge of being a self-avowed, practicing homosexual. He told jurors that because Dammann disclosed her homosexuality to the bishop as well as to the entire church, that is all the proof needed to find her guilty.
"It is not the law of the church that is on trial here," Finkbeiner
said.
United Methodist officials have said the trial is the first against a homosexual pastor in the denomination since 1987, when the credentials of the Rev. Rose Mary Denman of New Hampshire
were revoked.
<
br>"Clearly the jury has to look at this prohibition and decide if it's consistent with the rest of our Methodist rules and with the Bible," Linds
ay Thompson, Dammann's private lawyer, said earlier.
Dammann has said she hopes her trial will help move society and the church toward greater acceptance of gay clergy.
"We accept the gift of sexuality as God-given and holy," she said in defense papers released by Reconciling Ministries Network, a group favoring inclusion of gays and lesbians in the United Methodist Church.
Nine votes are needed for conviction, which would be followed by a decision by the same jury on a penalty that could include loss of ministry. If Dammann is acquitted, she would be considered in good standing and be available for
new assignments.
About 100 people protested loudly Wednesday morning outside Bothell United Methodist Church, and many tried to block church officials from entering the building. Police arre
sted 33 when they refused
to move. http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/West/03/18/lesb...r.ap/index.html
Dozens of supporters of the Rev. Karen Dammann were arrested Wednesday in this Seattle suburb as they tried to block the start of the trial before a church panel that will determine whether she should continue her ministry.
Dammann, 47, is charged with "practices declared by the United Methodist Church to be incompatible to Christian teachings." Church law prohibits ordination of self-avowed, practicing homosexuals, although the
hurch's social principles support rights and liberties for homosexuals.
Dammann is on leave as pastor of First United Methodist Church in Ellensburg, 95 miles east of Seattle. Last week she marrie
d h
er partner of nine years, Meredith Savage, in Portland, Or
egon, where officials began allowing gay marriages earlier this month. The couple has a 5-year-old son.
Dammann has pleaded not guilty. One of her first witnesses Wednesday was Mary Ann Tolbert, a professor of biblical studies at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, and executive director of its Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies.
Tolbert said the church is inconsistent in how it applies its Book of Discipline. At one time, for example, divorce was not allowed, but the church has since changed its stance, she said.
"It seems to me that, with all due respect, you are acting as a hypocrite," she said.
Tolbert reminded the jurors that Jesus was killed because he disagreed with the religious no
rms of his time.
"We have to be very careful, you have to be very careful, that you don't replicate the crucifixion of Jesus in what you do," she said.
In an opening statement
, Dammann&#
39;s church counsel, the Rev. Bob Ward, compared the struggle of gays and lesbians with the s
truggle that women and minorities had in gaining rights.
The difference, he said, is that "with gays and lesbians, they are encouraged to hide, as we have adopted a policy of 'don't ask, don't tell."'
"Karen has chosen not to live the lie," Ward said.
But the Rev. James Finkbeiner, representing the church, called on the jury to find Dammann guilty of the charge of being a self-avowed, practicing homosexual. He told jurors that because Dammann disclosed her homosexuality to the bishop as well as to the entire church, that is all the proof needed to find her guilty.
"It is not the law of the church that is on trial here," Finkbeiner
said.
United Methodist officials have said the trial is the first against a homosexual pastor in the denomination since 1987, when the credentials of the Rev. Rose Mary Denman of New Hampshire
were revoked.
<
br>"Clearly the jury has to look at this prohibition and decide if it's consistent with the rest of our Methodist rules and with the Bible," Linds
ay Thompson, Dammann's private lawyer, said earlier.
Dammann has said she hopes her trial will help move society and the church toward greater acceptance of gay clergy.
"We accept the gift of sexuality as God-given and holy," she said in defense papers released by Reconciling Ministries Network, a group favoring inclusion of gays and lesbians in the United Methodist Church.
Nine votes are needed for conviction, which would be followed by a decision by the same jury on a penalty that could include loss of ministry. If Dammann is acquitted, she would be considered in good standing and be available for
new assignments.
About 100 people protested loudly Wednesday morning outside Bothell United Methodist Church, and many tried to block church officials from entering the building. Police arre
sted 33 when they refused
to move. http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/West/03/18/lesb...r.ap/index.html