News Stories and More

"Clergy torn over church, civil loyalties over same-sex marriage" by Daniel Burke, The Washington Post, 3/27/10.

"Dumbarton celebrates marriage equality in Washington, DC" by Ann Thompson Cook, RMN Blog, 3/3/10.

"REFLECTIONS: Hate crimes on rise; recognize victims are children of God" by Bishop Woodie W. White, UM Reporter, 1/28/10.

With Video - "Clergy Rally in Support Of Same-Sex Marriage" by Hamil R. Harris, The Washington Post, 6/3/09.

"D.C. ministers back same-sex marriage: More than 130 sign ‘marriage equality’ declaration" by Lour Chibbaro, Jr, The Washington Blade, 6/2/09.

"Peggy Johnson elected a bishop of The United Methodist Church" by Linda Bloom, UM News Service, 7/17/08.

"Pastors defy United Methodist officials to conduct gay weddings" by Duke Helfand, LA Times, 7/17/08.

Letter to the Editor of the Washington Blade by BWARM Chair, Adam Briddell: "Standing for change in United Methodist Church"

"Methodists attend gay union ceremony near church convention"
by Angela Brown, Associated Press, 5/2/08.

"Same-sex couple says ‘I do’ outside church assembly" by Ciona D. Rouse, United Methodist News Service, 5/2/08.

"Conferences extend covenant agreement" (Baltimore-Washington and Zimbabwe) by Shaun Lane, United Methodist News Service, 5/2/08.

"Demonstrators call church’s ‘anti-gay’ policies sinful" by Linda Green, United Methodist News Service, 5/1/08.

"United Methodists uphold homosexuality stance" by Robin Russell, United Methodist News Service, 4/30/08.

"Black civil rights veterans advocate inclusion" by Robin Russell, United Methodist News Service, 4/27/08.

"Rally urges inclusion regardless of sexual identity" by Kathy Gilbert, United Methodist News Service, 4/26/08.

"Transgender United Methodists share stories" by Robin Russell, United Methodist News Service, 4/24/08.

"Washington church honors gay unions: Pastor says it’s a ‘step in the right direction’" by Joshua Lynsen, Washington Blade, 3/7/08.

Flexible Equity:An Alternative to Renew the UMC by Elizabeth Okayama and Bruce W. Robbins, on United Methodist NeXus

"United Methodists explore church's global structure" by Linda Green, United Methodist News Service, 2/6/08.

"Top court upholds transgender pastor’s appointment" by Neill Caldwell, United Methodist News Service, 10/30/07.

"Transgender man can keep post as pastor" by Liz F. Kay, Baltimore Sun, 10/30/07.

"Transgender pastor shares story" by Melissa Lauber, UM Connection Daily, 5/25/07. See page 3.

"Pastor speaks of transgender experience" by Linda Bloom, United Methodist News Service, 5/25/07.

"Transgender minister is reappointed: Pastor leads Charles Village United Methodist church" by Liz F. Kay, Baltimore Sun, 5/25/07.

"Judicial Council: Conferences may disagree with rulings" by Neill Caldwell, United Methodist News Service, 11/6/06.

"Bloody Knuckle" Petition at Clergywomen's Consultation - See coverage in:
- Reconciling Ministries Network Flashnet, 8/17/06
- "Clergywomen's Consultation: Women Bishops Symbolize Progress" by Cynthia B. Astle, UM NeXus, August 2006

"Women of Color scholars must lift all women’s voices, bishop says" by Linda Green, United Methodist News Service, 8/14/06

Rulings of Law from Bishop John R. Schol, 2006 Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference: See Bishop Schol's response to two requests for rulings related to the "Resolution to Prohibit Discrimination in Receiving Members into United Methodist Congregations" - for requests, rulings and background, scroll down to the Second and Third Rulings of Law. The requests and rulings appeared in the UMConnection, vol. 17, no. 4 , 7/19/06, "Bishop's Report to the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church."

Reconciling Ministry Network has reports on activities from various 2006 Annual Conferences in their weekly FlashNet e-newsletter. See:

  • July 6 edition for Illinois Great Rivers , California-Nevada, Louisiana, and Holston
  • June 28 edition for Dakotas, Peninsula-Delaware, Holston, Western Pennsylvania,
    Western North Carolina, Kansas East, Central Texas
  • June 13 edition for New York, New England, West Michigan, Troy, Detroit, Oregon Idaho, South Georgia, Southwest Texas
  • June 6 edition for Minnesota and Kansas West

"Conference Affirms Open Doors to Everyone" (third story in the document) by Melissa Lauber, Connecting Through Christ: Saturday, May 27 (BWC), 5/27/06

"Judicial Council denies reconsideration of two decisions" by Neill Caldwell, United Methodist News Service (UMNS), 5/2/06

"Protesters, Judicial Council members worship together" by Neill Caldwell, United Methodist News Service (UMNS), 5/2/06

"Briefs crystallize debate points over Judicial Council decisions" by Neill Caldwell, United Methodist News Service (UMNS), 4/19/06

"Dozens from Iliff stage protest vigil: Seminary crowd upset by 2 rulings on rights for gays" by Jean Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News, 11/4/05

"United Methodist bishops affirm church membership open to all" by Tim Tanton, UMNS, 11/3/05

"Church court reinstates pastor who denied membership to gay man" by Neill Caldwell, United Methodist News Service (UMNS), 10/31/05

Letters from Bishop Schol and the Council of Bishops

Bishop John Schol, Baltimore-Washington Conference, "Judicial Council Rulings," 10/30/07.

Bishop Sally Dyck, Minnesota Conference, "Answers to Questions about the General Conference Petitions," 6/8/06

Bishop John Schol, Baltimore-Washington Conference, "Called to 'model the open hospitality of Christ'," 11/3/05

Council of Bishops, "A Pastoral Letter to the People of The United Methodist Church from the Council of Bishops," 11/2/05

Bishop John Schol, Baltimore-Washington Conference, "New Judicial Council decisions on rejection of homosexual clergy and laity," 10/31/05