Thomas Oggletree who was a former Yale Divinity Dean and a United Methodist Minister will soon be tried by a church council for breaking the church rules prohibiting Methodist ministers from blessing same sex unions. He officiated at his son Thomas Rimby Ogletree’s wedding to Nicholas William Haddad in New York City. He justified his act, saying, it is in keeping with his beliefs as a Christian. A number of similar cases have occurred recently with gay couples.
Last year Rev. Frank Shfer was convicted of violating Methodist Law and stripped of his clergy credentials for officiating at the same sex wedding of his son. Bishop Melvin Talvert officiated at a same sex wedding in Alabama in October, leading to complaints by other Methodist Bishops. In New York and the Pacific North-West, other bishops are also preparing to face similar charges.
In the 2012 Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church its opposition to homosexuality and gay marriage was clearly stated. Thomas Oggletree’s trial for officiating at his son’s gay marriage will take place on March 10th at a church in Stamford, Connecticut. Methodists in New Directions, a group that advocates for LGBT equality within the denomination reported on his case.
No comments:
Post a Comment