Iowa Methodists Back Gay Rights

Some of them do, at least.

Hundreds of Iowa Methodists signed protest documents at their annual conference Sunday declaring they are prepared to buck the leadership of their church on matters concerning gays and gay marriage. A group called Do No Harm Iowa has gathered as many as 500 signatures -- including those of about 70 pastors -- in response to the most recent meeting of the United Methodist Churches' global conference of leaders. A vote at that meeting, which is held every four years, determined the church's book of doctrine and rules would continue to call the practice of homosexuality "incompatible with Christian teaching."

But that, said Rev. Diane McClanahan of Trinity United Methodist Church in Des Moines, is incompatible with her own concept of Jesus. "There are so many pieces of Scripture we no longer abide by because we have a different context," said McClanahan, who served as a spokesperson for Do No Harm Iowa. "(Homosexuality) is just the issue of the day." The United Methodist Church continues to formally ban the marriage of same-sex couples and the ordination of gay clergy. Two protest documents were read Sunday following the report on the United Methodist General Conference, which ended May 4 in Tampa, Fla. Many among the 1,600 delegates wore blue "Do No Harm" T-shirts and stood silently during both readings.

(Tipped by JMG reader Derek)