Former Lesbian Minister Wins Her Appeal

Reuters

A lesbian Methodist minister defrocked last year after admitting to living with a woman won her appeal against the church's decision because it had not defined "practicing homosexual," the United Methodist Church said.

She had been stripped her of her credentials as a minister at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown, Philadelphia. She was allowed to have a lesser role in the church but could not perform ceremonies such as baptisms and weddings. "An appeals committee has reversed a clergy court verdict in the case of Irene Elizabeth Stroud," the statement said.

In a 14-page decision, the committee reversed both the conviction and the penalty on the technical grounds that the church has not properly defined the term "practicing homosexual". The committee also held that the church law under which the charges were brought was a new standard that had not been formally ratified by the church authorities and so could not be used to convict Stroud.

Stroud, 34, was originally found to have violated the church's Book of Discipline, which forbids the ordination and appointment of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals." Stroud told the hearing she was in a committed relationship with another woman and had decided to be open about her sexuality because it was the honest, Christian thing to do.

Her stance was backed by many members of her Philadelphia congregation. The committee said it recognized that "practicing homosexual" may involve engaging in "genital sexual activity" but that the term had not been clearly defined by the church and so it could not be used against Stroud.

Stroud said in an interview on Friday she was relieved at the decision but not elated because she didn't know whether the church would actually appeal to the Judicial Council. "I'm encouraged and I'm hopeful, and I'm grateful that the committee took seriously the case that was brought," she said.