SEATTLE – United Methodist Minister Mark Edward Williams, the only openly gay man in the Methodist pulpit nationally, and members of his congregation at Woodland Park United Methodist Church (WPUMC) had mixed reactions today to a ruling by the church’s Judicial Council. The Council ruled that Williams was denied “fair and due process” when his bishop declined to reappoint him to WPUMC after he announced last June that he is gay. However, the Judicial Council also appeared to rule that Williams must be suspended while this process moves forward.

Williams startled church leaders on June 15 by publicly announcing at the UMC’s Pacific Northwest Annual Conference that he is gay. Bishop Elias Galvan of the PNW Conference determined there was a conflict in church law that prevented him from appointing “self-avowed practicing homosexual” clergy. Instead, he appointed Rev. Bob Hoshibata to serve as interim pastor of WPUMC in addition to his duties as superintendent of the conference’s Seattle district. Following consultation with the bishop and the cabinet, Hoshibata assigned Williams to care for the ministry of Woodland Park under his supervision.

“Woodland Park continues to stand behind our pastor, Rev. Mark Williams, and continues to affirm its support of the ordination of openly gay men and lesbians,” said Maggie Brown, speaking on behalf of the congregation as chair of WPUMC’s Staff-Parish Relations Committee, which handles staff-related issues.

“We are glad that the Judicial Council agrees with Pastor Mark that he did not receive fair and due process when Bishop Elias Galvan declined to re-appoint him to WPUMC. This process most likely will result in a church trial during which Pastor Mark will be able to exercise his full rights as an ordained member of the clergy.

“However, we do not agree with the Judicial Council’s apparent interpretation of the church’s Book of Discipline that Bishop Galvan should place Pastor Mark on suspension. The Book of Discipline clearly states that a bishop may suspend (emphasis added) a clergy ‘when deemed appropriate to protect the well-being of the person making the complaint, the church and/or clergy…’ This congregation has stated publicly on several occasions that it wants Pastor Mark as our minister. WPUMC does not want Pastor Mark relieved from his clergy duties. We urge Bishop Galvan not to ask his Executive Board of Ordained Ministry to vote on suspension, but if he does, we pray that the executive board members will deny the request.”

“I knew when I came out in June that I was putting my career at risk,” said Williams, who made his announcement in order to force the Church to examine the harm its discriminatory policies are doing to its own members. “I am gratified that the Judicial Council recognizes that I was denied due and fair process. In essence, that means the Bishop should have re-appointed me to WPUMC and then initiated a judicial complaint against me. However, I do not believe that I should be suspended while the steps of that process are followed. I also want to voice my heartfelt gratitude to my congregation, and to the incredible support I have received from people within and without of the church who are working to end the Methodist Church’s discrimination against gay and lesbians in ministry.”

Williams has been senior pastor at Woodland Park since 1999. Most recently, WPUMC and Williams received the Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign in Seattle.

Note to editors: There are two United Methodist pastors named Mark Williams in the Pacific Northwest Conference. They typically differentiate themselves by using their middle names.