THE NATION - News from April 30, 2009
United Methodist clergy cannot perform same-sex marriages or gay civil unions, even if their regional church district supports the idea, the denomination’s high court ruled in Denver.
The Judicial Council said that a church district, or annual conference, cannot “negate, ignore or violate” churchwide discipline, even if it disagrees with the policy.
The council’s decision was released Monday.
Last year, the top church legislative body, or General Conference, voted to retain its ban on same-sex marriages and bar clergy from performing the ceremonies or consecrating same-sex unions in the church. Violating pastors risk losing their clergy credentials.
The council’s decision came in the case of two regional groups that had supported performing such marriages.
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