An Open Letter to Bishop Joseph Yeakel,
Bishop Marcus Matthews,
Bishop John Schol and Bishop Peter Weaver
December 3, 2004

Dear Brothers in Christ,

In these last days we have witnessed together what I believe is a grave violation of the Gospel as Beth Stroud was tried, found guilty and stripped of her ordination credentials. I feel compelled to share with you the heaviness in my heart.

As clergy within the United Methodist Church we share common ordination vows of word, order and sacrament. As Bishops, each of you has been given a particular charge to maintain the order of the church. In the trial of Beth Stroud each of you took very seriously your responsibility to protect the order of the church and follow the processes outlined in the United Methodist Book of Discipline.

I fully respect your commitment as leaders of the church to make sure that all voices are heard. Indeed I believe that each of you is gifted in helping this to happen.

I am deeply pained, however, at what we have done as the United Methodist Church in this trial. As I ask myself what more I can do to see that such injustice does not happen again within our church I share with you some reflections on the choices you made related to the trial.

Bishop Schol, your testimony as to Beth's gifts and graces as a United Methodist pastor was very moving. You were eloquent in your witness.
When you were asked, however, what you would do if faced with similar circumstances as a Bishop, you spoke of being faithful to the process the church has set up to deal with such situations. This response is appropriate to your role as one who guards that process. There was nothing to stop you from saying, however, that at the same time you would speak God's word of love and justice as you understand it. As one ordained to a ministry of word, order and sacrament, I would hope that in a similar situation you would not only guard the process but would speak out about your understanding of God's word in relation to what we are doing to gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender persons who are called to ordained ministry and have the gifts and graces to serve.

Bishop Matthews, upon the completion of the trial you wrote a "pastoral letter" which I believe accurately stated that everyone involved in the trial showed "great respect for each other, for our church and the law of the church." You went on to say, however, that "grace was abundant." I fear that you, and other Episcopal leaders, may mistake politeness for God's grace. A horrible injustice was done to the Rev. Beth Stroud and a great injury inflicted upon her, her family, her congregation, the United Methodist Church and society at large. The fact that this injury was inflicted without rancor, with careful attention to following a process, and with no outcries of pain and anguish, makes it no less an injury. No less an injustice. I did not see God's grace at work in the actions and decisions of the court.

Bishop Weaver, in your testimony about the "journey" you took with Beth you spoke at length about the love and respect you had for one another throughout the process. You talked of exploring every possible option and then choosing the final course of action open to you, that of bringing charges against Beth. I find this particularly troubling in that you implied you could do no other. I believe you had other choices. You could have refused to bring charges. You could have brought charges while at the same time speaking out publicly about the grave injustice that was taking place. At General Conference 2004 legislation was introduced calling for Bishops to be tried if they refuse to bring charges against someone who has broken church law. That legislation did not pass. I do not think this was an accident. I believe that our church wants our Bishops to have discretion in determining when charges should be pressed.

Bishop Yeakel you acted with utmost care as the one presiding at this trial. I don't believe any one can fault you for one word or action taken from the standpoint of process and law. When does the point come, however, when you refuse to preside over such injustice? When does the point come where doing so simply lends legitimacy to an injustice? In civil courts a person can have a thoroughly fair trial and appeal that still ends with the person going to the electric chair. When does one use one's moral authority to say "no" I will not lend legitimacy to this process that perpetuates injustice, while using the language of love?

The final burden on my heart needs to be spoken to someone who spoke at the press conference at the end of the trial. I believe it was the counsel for Beth Stroud, although I was so far back in the room that I could not see exactly who was speaking. A reporter asked him who "won" in the trial. After pausing the person responded, "We all won."

He went on to talk about how fair the process had been, how everyone's voice had been heard, how people had been treated with respect and care.

I was heartsick at his answer. I believe in my deepest heart that at the end of the day no one won. Beth was stripped of the credentials that enable her to answer God's call to ordained Ministry. The First UMC Germantown was deprived of a pastor who has been a channel of God's grace, particularly in offering the sacraments. The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference has lost a gifted pastor. The United Methodist Church has removed a gifted leader from the ranks of our clergy. Perhaps most wrenching of all, gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender people lost. Once again they have received the message that they are not full and whole and precious in God's sight - just as God created them.

I continue to pray for each of you and for our church,

Kathryn J. Johnson, Executive Director
Methodist Federation for Social Action