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Statement of Mark Williams
to 2001 UMC Annual Conference On Friday, June 15, 2001, Pastor Mark Williams presented the report of the Conference Legislative Committee on Church and Society - Domestic to the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference. When the bishop announced that he was about to call for a recess for lunch, Pastor Williams asked him to permit me a point of personal privileged. He granted the request, and Pastor Williams made the following statement: |
| "I was baptized into the United Methodist Church as an infant, attended Sunday school, and was confirmed a member of Longview United Methodist Church. I went to a United Methodist college, and I attended a historically Methodist seminary on my way to becoming an ordained United Methodist pastor six years ago. A core part of my identity has always been my awareness that I'm a United Methodist. I've known for almost as long that I'm gay. From my earliest memories of discovering my sexuality, I've recognized that I'm gay. The fact that I'm gay is also a core part of my identity. I'm proudly as much a practicing gay man as I am a practicing United Methodist. When the Church votes about homosexuality… when General Conference pronounces what we believe as United Methodists… when the bishop makes decisions about who is worthy to be ordained and appointed… in all of these discussions we are talking about me. We aren't talking about strangers outside the Church, banging at the doors trying to force their way in. We're talking about our children, our siblings, our parents, and our pastors. We're choosing to embrace or reject people who are already here, born and raised among us, listening in on what we have to say about our lives and our love. I realize the consequences of sharing this important part of myself with you. I realize that the Church is prepared to accept me as a pastor only as long as I remain closeted and silent. It makes me sad to think that I may face rejection and the denial of my call to ministry from the community that's nurtured me all my life. I'm confident that I won't be rejected and my gifts won't be denied in the gay community. The spirit of grace and acceptance is present there in a way that should put the Church to shame. I'm the same person I was when you baptized me, and when you confirmed me, and when you ordained me and found me fit for ministry. I'm the same person you've placed in the leadership of our conference. I'm the same person I was five minutes ago. I haven't changed by telling you that I'm gay, and I'm prepared to remain in the same relationship with you. If our relationship changes, I want to be clear: it's not me who's changed. It's you." |