5 Reactions to the United Methodist Church's Ruling Against Lesbian Bishop

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Monday, May 01, 2017

2. John Lomperis

John Lomperis is the director of the United Methodist Action program of the Institute on Religion and Democracy.

John Lomperis, United Methodist Action director with the theologically conservative Institute on Religion & Democracy and a delegate at the 2016 UMC General Conference, celebrated both the Oliveto ruling and other decisions wherein the Judicial Council invalidated efforts by regional bodies to allow for full LGBT ordination.

"I celebrate that these landmark rulings should now make it significantly easier to bring accountability for pastors who choose to violate biblical standards for sexual self-control," wrote Lomperis on Friday. "We are slowly but increasingly strengthening biblical accountability in our Church."

Lomperis went on to say that he had some issue with the Judicial Council's decision given that it did not immediately remove Oliveto from office.

"I am disappointed that the Judicial Council did not go further by acting directly to immediately remove Oliveto from office, in light of her dishonest and illegitimate election, as I requested in the legal brief I submitted," continued Lomperis.

"But these decisions move us closer, if not as quickly as I wish, to preventing those who so blatantly violate our biblical standards, lie to the Church, and mistreat its members from serving as bishop."