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News Update 04-29-2005 Bulletin: Appeals
committee reverses Stroud verdict
Other news of interest across the UMC included
in
NIC VOICE news updates are
now being posted in the
NIC VOICE forum
at
Faithful Christian Laity Discussion Forum.
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UMNS News Release:
Bulletin: Appeals committee reverses Stroud
verdict
An appeals committee has reversed a clergy court
verdict in the case of Irene Elizabeth “Beth”
Stroud. The Northeastern Jurisdiction Committee
on Appeals announced its decision at 10:30 a.m.
Eastern time today, after hearing Stroud’s
appeal April 28. Stroud lost her credentials as
a United Methodist minister on Dec. 2 after a
clergy trial, which stemmed from her
acknowledgment that she is a practicing lesbian.
The
United
Methodist
Church’s Book of Discipline forbids the
ordination and appointment of “self-avowed
practicing homosexuals.” More information on the
appeals committee’s decision will follow this
morning.
Update: The full text of the decision is
available as a PDF
document.
UMNS Additional Information
For background on the case, go to Appeal
begins for former clergywoman who lost
credentials.
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New PRESS ARTICLES since last
NIC VOICE
News Update:
The following has been posted in numerous news
sources on-line:
Methodist Church to reinstate lesbian minister
MSNBC -
A church panel voted 8 to 1 to set aside
an earlier decision to defrock Irene “Beth”
Stroud
for violating the church’s ban on openly gay
clergy. ...
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Pre-Trial Articles/News not included in previous
NIC VOICE
Updates:
Defrocked lesbian pastor appeals church's
decision
Washington Times - Washington,DC,USA
Printer Friendly URL:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20050428-115520-4626r
The Washington Times
www.washingtontimes.com
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published April 29, 2005
BALTIMORE -- Irene Elizabeth "Beth" Stroud, a
Methodist associate pastor who was removed from
her pulpit four months ago for lesbianism,
begged a church appeals court yesterday to
overturn the decision that resulted in her
defrocking.
"I pray the church will do justice in my
case," she said. "Gay and lesbian people and
their families and people who love them are
really prevented by discrimination from
receiving the love of Christ as we understand
it."
Read
More
Defrocked
Lesbian
Methodist Files Appeal to Church
Court
Christian Post - San Francisco,CA,USA
A lesbian woman who was stripped of her
ministerial credentials by the United Methodist
Church five months ago appealed to regain her
post
Friday, Apr. 29, 2005 Posted: 7:35:36AM EST
<snip>
After the hearing, Stroud said she was
“impressed” by the committee on appeals.
"I was very impressed with the Committee on
Appeals. They were very astute and they just
showed an enormous understanding of church law
and the issues involved,” said Stroud.
Stroud, who currently serves as a lay leader to
the First United Methodist Church in Germantown,
said she will not begin ministering as a pastor
until the entire appeals process is played out
and unless she succeeds.
According to the Rev. William Scott Campbell,
chairman of the appeals panel, he said to AP
that one of several things could happen after
the decision is announced. Either side could
appeal to a Methodist supreme court or the case
could be remanded for a second trial. The
appeals panel could also reverse the earlier
verdict, change the penalty, or do both.
Read More
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News Updates Previously Released by
NIC VOICE
Regarding Beth Stroud Trial:
Pre-Trial Updates (posted at the NIC VOICE
Forum at Faithful Christian Laity)
Collection of Trial and Appeal Press Reports at
Beth Stroud’s Web Site
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