For the benefit of those who were unable to attend worship, I have been asked to post the pastoral response included in the bulletin on Sunday, November 9, 2005.

YOUR PASTOR'S RESPONSE TO THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL DECISION 1032
(Case summary follows)

I am deeply saddened that in the name of protecting the authority of the clergy, the Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church ruled
that a pastor had the authority to deny membership in the church to a Christian for refusing to be repentant of his homosexual relationship.

I am deeply saddened that the United Methodist Church continues to endorse opportunities to discriminate against persons who clearly
acknowledge and celebrate the gift of God's grace in their lives and desire to give witness to that reality.

I am deeply saddened that this action of the Judicial Council has and will hurt so many people in the United Methodist Church.

I take heart in the reality that many of my United Methodist brothers and sisters who hold a different perspective from mine on inclusiveness in the church are also deeply saddened.

I take heart in the reality that this ruling is by no means a unified voice. Three of the nine Judicial Council Members dissented (one
member was absent).

I take heart that at the Virginia Annual Conference Clergy Session, 488 pastors took the stance to place Rev. E. Johnson on involuntary leave of absence for his "unwillingness or inability to perform ministerial duties." (Vote 488 in favor of involuntary leave of absence, 144 against, 18 abstentions) Rev. Johnson had denied membership to a homosexual man who was already actively involved in the congregation.

I take heart that First UMC of Pittsburgh states in its Hospitality Statement, "We prayerfully seek to openly welcome all of God's children regardless of. . .sexual orientation . . ."

I take heart that there are many who have the courage to continue the journey that we may become the community of faith that God is calling
us to be.

I pray for the healing of the brokenness of our church and ask for God to lead us to healing and wholeness.

I pray that our congregation will continue witnessing to the reality that God's grace is available to all and proclaim that message more assertively both near and far.

I pray that our brothers and sisters who are gay and lesbian will know that without them our community of faith cannot be whole and that we ask forgiveness for the pain we have caused them.

On the journey together,
Bob Wilson, Pastor
Paul Schrading, Pastor Emeritus

(Rev. Ed Johnson refused to receive into full membership of the United Methodist Church a person who is not repentant about his
homosexual relationship. The result was that the Virginia Conference sustained a complaint against Rev. Johnson that charged him with
"unwillingness or inability to perform ministerial functions," and placed him on involuntary leave of absence. On October 31, 2005 the
Judicial Council reversed the action of the Conference. The Judicial Council stated: "The 2004 Discipline invests discretion in the
pastor-in-charge to make the determination of a person's readiness to affirm the vows of membership. (par. 217). Paragraphs 214 and 225 are permissive and do not mandate receipt into membership of all persons regardless of their willingness to
affirm membership vows." You may obtain more information at www.umc.org)