Defrocked Lesbian Minister Appeal Hearing Process Begins
The appeal hearing process is underway in the case of Rev. Beth Stroud, a former United Methodist minister who was found guilty of knowingly violating the denomination’s standards of ordinations by partaking in an active homosexual relationship.
The appeal hearing process is underway in the case of Rev. Beth Stroud, a former United Methodist minister who was found guilty of knowingly violating the denomination’s standards of ordinations by partaking in an active homosexual relationship.
During a Jan. 27 interview with the United Methodist News Service, Rev. William "Scott" Campbell, the chairman of the committee on appeal for the denomination’s Northeastern Jurisdiction, said he hopes to announce a hearing date soon for Stroud’s case.
Stroud, who on Dec. 2 was stripped of her credentials, said several weeks later that she would appeal her decision. She and her lawyers have until Feb 4 to file their briefs, according to Campbell. The counsel for the church has another month before the deadline for its file submission is completed.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
During the open-and-shut case, Stroud was found guilty of violating the church law that prohibits the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.” Stroud, who “married” her partner in a ceremony at a United Church of Christ church even after being ordained, admitted to having a sexually active relationship with her lover. Although her counsel tried to bring in witnesses to testify her ability to minister and to challenge the current denominational standards on ordination, the judge ruled out such arguments as not being related to the case involved.
According to the UMC’s Book of Discipline, the “appellate body shall determine two questions only: (a) Does the weight of the evidence sustain the charge or charges? (b) Were there such errors of Church law as to vitiate the verdict and/or the penalty?"
The Appellate process does not allow witnesses to take the stand. Rather, the questions will be determined by trial records and arguments from the counsel.
"There really is a limit to what the committee can do," Campbell said to the UMNS.
The nine members for the committee on appeal will also be chosen from conferences (districts) outside of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference where the initial case was held.
