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TechnoratiIn its October ruling, the council said both committees had committed "an egregious error of church law" by refusing to apply the Book of Discipline and earlier decisions to the case. The council ordered the jurisdictional appeals committee to send the case back to the conference committee on investigation for a new hearing, which eventually lead to the controversial Dammann trial in March.
Following that verdict, the Council of Bishops issued a statement that said the Pacific-Northwest ruling "does not alter the Book of Discipline regarding homosexuality or the qualifications for ministry. The Discipline’s authority is unchanged. Nor does this case directly affect other annual conferences as they may adjudicate such cases."
The Current Book of Discipline states that "While persons set apart by the Church for ordained ministry are subject to all the frailties of the human condition and the pressures of society, they are required to maintain the highest standards of holy living in the world. Since the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church."
The phrase "practices incompatible with Christian teaching" is included in Paragraph 2702.1(b) under the heading "Chargeable Offenses" for United Methodist clergy. That paragraph was approved at the 1980 General Conference, four years before the language in Paragraph 304.3 was approved.
The following is the full text, and dissent of the General Assembly, as released by the conservative Good News Magazine group.
This copy subject to final editing and correction
DECISION NO. 984
IN RE: Declaratory Decision Regarding the Meaning, Application or Effect of 304.3 and 2702.1(b) of the 2000 Discipline.
DIGEST
Paragraph 304.3 of the 2000 Discipline is a declaration of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.” The practice of homosexuality is a chargeable offense under 2702.1(b) of the 2000 Discipline.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
On motion of a delegate from the Arkansas Annual Conference, the 2004 General Conference requested a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council on the following questions:
1. Does the statement in 304.3 [of the 2000 Discipline] constitute a declaration by The United Methodist Church that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching?
2. If the answer to 1) is yes, does 2702.1(b) [of the 2000 Discipline], “practices declared by The United Methodist Church to be incompatible with Christian teachings,” incorporate that declaration into United Methodist Church law by reference?
Jurisdiction
The Judicial Council has jurisdiction under 2610 of the 2000 Discipline.
Analysis and Rationale
Paragraph 304.3 of the 2000 Discipline provides that:
While persons set apart by the Church for ordained ministry are subject to all the frailties of the human condition and the pressures of society, they are required to maintain the highest standards of holy living in the world. Since the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church. Continue »
