Response to the Verdict in the Trial of Karen Dammann

By Kathryn Johnson
March 22, 2004

The Rev. Karen Dammann was charged with engaging in “practices declared by the United Methodist Church to be incompatible with Christian teachings.” Eleven of the thirteen jurors found her “not guilty” while two jurors remained undecided. Only five “not guilty” votes were needed for an acquittal.

There is much to rejoice about in this verdict. Karen’s call to ordained ministry, which she describes as clear and strong, had been affirmed by her annual conference long before this trial. The verdict means that she will be able to continue to live into that call through service as a United Methodist pastor.

For the churches and annual conferences that have benefited from her ministry, and for those that will do so in the future, the verdict is good news. They will continue to be blessed by the gifts and graces and Karen has to offer.

For Karen’s family, her spouse Meredith and her son Beckett, the verdict means that they can openly celebrate the special love that is shared by those who live together in the covenant of “family.” Beckett will not grow up under the cloud of shame that accompanies family secrets.

For the United Methodist Church this verdict points to the deep and painful divisions that exist within our denomination. As the news of the “not guilty” verdict spread across the country over the weekend tears of rejoicing and relief were shed and prayers of thanks uttered. At the very same moment, others were shedding tears of grief and pain as they tried to deal with feelings of shock and betrayal.

This issue is not going to be resolved through passing laws, bringing charges and holding trials. The differences of belief on this issue run very deep and are based on heartfelt faith convictions about what God would have us do, as individuals and as a church. When Christians differ, as strongly as we do on issues related to sexual orientation, about what God would have us do, we are not going to be able to legislate a resolution.

Just over a month from now we will gather at General Conference. One option will be to escalate the battle to sway the church in one direction or the other, to pass legislation that adds further restrictions or to remove current restrictive legislation.

The trial of Karen Dammann adds to the evidence that this is not the way to move into the future as the people of God known as the church.

My prayer for General Conference in Pittsburgh is that we will have the courage to ask the hard questions and to make decisions about how to seek the answers. The question should not be which side will “win” but rather how to address the deep divisions in the body of the church.

The Methodist Federation for Social Action urges delegates to General Conference 2004 to try a new path as reflected in legislation that calls on the church to recognize our deep divisions related to sexual orientation without imposing the beliefs of one side or the other.

MFSA has submitted such legislation as have several others.

The legislation calls for delegates to delete the following sentence from the Social Principles: Although we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching, we affirm that God's grace is available to all.(¶161 G).

It calls for this to be replaced with: Differences of opinion among faithful Christians regarding sexual orientation continue to deeply divide the church. We stand before God admitting that we have thus far been unable to reach common ground. As we continue to discern God's will together, we are united in declaring our understanding that God's grace is available to all.

Those who hold widely divergent convictions can speak with integrity in supporting this legislation. Focusing on this one statement will enable delegates to deal with the heart of the matter. What people believe about ordination, same-sex unions, and the like, flows from their fundamental beliefs around sexual orientation. By focusing on the basic reality, delegates will not be sidetracked into talking about issues that flow from this reality.

This legislation can bring together even those who fundamentally disagree. It states the obvious and painful truth: as a church “we have thus far been unable to reach common ground.” In order to move forward, confession is necessary. Our confession is that we are deeply divided.

This legislation does not ask people to agree where there is disagreement, and it does not say “we agree to disagree.” Efforts to persuade, on both sides of this issue, will continue.

Honestly admitting our differences holds the promise of leading us out of our current impasse by having people admit that there are people of good faith who have honest convictions that differ from their own, convictions that grow out of their faith. To take the step of admitting our brokenness opens us up to God’s abundant grace and blessing and has the potential of opening our eyes to finding new ways to move into the future.