RECONCILING MINISTRIES NETWORK
3801 N. Keeler Avenue Chicago, IL 60641      
www.generalconference2008.org     www.rmnetwork.org

Press Release:  May 1, 2008

Contact Persons:

Ann Craig, Media Coordinator,
craig@glaad.org, 213-703-1365

Rev. Troy Plummer, Executive Director,
troy@rmnetwork.org, 773-315-9225, cell

Monica Swink, Board Chair,
monicaswink@cox.net, 405-473-3942, cell

GAY METHODISTS PROTEST REJECTION BY CHURCH

Protestors draped in black placed their bodies on the sidewalk outside the convention center in Fort Worth, Texas, where United Methodists had passed anti-gay resolutions at the General Conference the day before. Delegates had to walk around or over the bodies. 

Inside, during its Wednesday morning session, it was not business as usual as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people of faith, in a negotiated interruption of the proceedings, processed into the auditorium draped in black to represent their grief and the brokenness of the church in response to the church’s refusal to recognize gay people as anything but “incompatible with Christian teaching.”

Singing, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” protesters lined the convention center aisles two deep in the form of a cross and draped the central communion altar in black.

Supporters throughout the hall stood in support as a protester announced that the church has refused God’s call of LGBT people to membership and ordination.  African American Bishop Melvin Talbert moved to the microphone and reminded delegates that  the church was wrong when they created a segregated jurisdiction that was not disbanded until 40 years ago—and the church is wrong now as it keeps LGBT people totally out of the denomination and urged the body to reconsider. Many remained seated.

After more than thirty years of working for full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Christians, advocates were stunned when, on Wednesday, April 30, on the eighth day of its ten-day conference, pastors were given the right to reject gay people as members. Ironically, the conference voted to end discrimination against gay people and voted down all anti-transgender legislation.

President of the Council of Bishops, Gregory Palmer, announced that twelve bishops would meet with twelve representatives from the protesters to negotiate additional responses.