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Bishop Karen Oliveto David Zalubowski/AP

First openly lesbian bishop in US Methodist Church may lose her job

Bishop Karen Oliveto’s civil marriage to another woman violates church law that bars clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals”.

THE FIRST OPENLY lesbian bishop in the United Methodist Church in the US can keep her job for now, but is subject to a disciplinary review that could lead to her removal, the top church court has ruled.

Bishop Karen Oliveto’s civil marriage to another woman violates church law that bars clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals,” the Judicial Council said yesterday.

However, a decision over whether she can remain in the position must come from a separate disciplinary process, the court ruled.

Oliveto was elected last year to lead a Denver-area church region that is part of the Methodist Western Jurisdiction, which has rejected the denomination’s position that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching”.

Within minutes of her election, a challenge was filed by the Oklahoma-based South Central Jurisdiction, leading to yesterday’s ruling.

The case is the latest chapter in an intensifying fight over LGBT recognition that is fracturing the 12.8 million-member denomination — the third-largest faith group in the US.

Earlier this week, bishops announced a special 2019 meeting of its top legislative body, or General Conference, expressly to address church law on sexuality and find ways the denomination can avoid schism.

Differing views

LGBT advocates in the church have stepped up pressure to lift prohibitions on gay clergy. Bishops have conducted same-sex weddings in defiance of church policy and dozens of LGBT clergy have come out, risking being defrocked.

Evangelical Methodists, who have gained strength in the denomination in part through growth of Methodist churches overseas, have responded by pushing to enforce church policies. The court said yesterday that bishops who consecrate an openly gay bishop were considered in violation of Methodist law and also subject to church discipline.

The Methodist policy making body has upheld the church’s stand on same-sex relationships since 1972, even as other mainline Protestant groups, including the Episcopal Church and the Presbyterian Church, have approved same-sex marriage.

Yesteryda’s ruling was made on a 6-3 vote. Oliveto said she felt “grateful” for the chance to remain as bishop as she and other church leaders study what the decision means for her future.

Bruce Ough, president of the Methodist Council of Bishops, said the decision would not ease “the disagreements, impatience and anxiety” in the church, but he appealed to church members to stay unified.

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14 Comments
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    Mute Dean Burroughs
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    Apr 29th 2017, 10:04 AM

    Massive news that’s extremely relevant to the vast majority of your readers and Ireland as a whole……

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    Mute Porterkev
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    Apr 29th 2017, 10:06 AM

    @Dean Burroughs: which you cared enough to comment on…

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    Mute David Murphey
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    Apr 29th 2017, 11:18 AM

    @Dean Burroughs: there’s a whole world out there, Dean.

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    Mute kevin
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    Apr 29th 2017, 12:13 PM

    @Dean Burroughs: just like all the British news on this site

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    Mute Stouts O Shea
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    Apr 29th 2017, 10:10 AM

    Protestant lesbian bishops, good salacious stuff on a bank holiday weekend, beats nun s running hospital s any day

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    Mute carodeer
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    Apr 29th 2017, 10:30 AM

    Good to see a bishop in a church who is a woman, married and gay. But the game is up and the curtain has dropped. Fed up of all organised religion at this point.

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Apr 29th 2017, 11:23 AM

    If she was on husband number 3 it wouldn’t be an issue. Good old skyfairy nonsense!

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Apr 29th 2017, 11:34 AM

    @DaisyChainsaw: mad isn’t it? You’re the wrong type of human for our church. You must be this type of human. Bonkers!

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    Mute Mike Cantwell
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    Apr 29th 2017, 10:02 AM

    We wouldn’t stand for that carry on down in Gorey.

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Apr 29th 2017, 11:21 AM

    I hear ye sit and watch!

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    Mute Jack Cassady
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    Apr 29th 2017, 10:17 AM

    One can only imagine the sermons.

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    Mute John O'Driscoll
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    Apr 29th 2017, 10:24 AM

    Pope said “Who am I to judge?”

    Let they who have not sinned cast the first.

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    Mute Dean Anderson
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    Apr 29th 2017, 11:02 AM

    @John O’Driscoll: he did say that John but then when push came to shove he didn’t practice what he preached.. he refused to allow Laurent stefanini be Frances ambassador to the Vatican because he was gay

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    Mute John003
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    Apr 29th 2017, 11:04 AM

    We all judge lots of things every day….A comment on the journal is giving a judgement….Normal life is all about making judgements…

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