Pastor faces complaint for performing gay marriages
Pastor faces complaint for performing gay marriages
Feb. 25, 2004
By Chuck Myer*
UMNS photo by Terry Schmitt
Julie
Williamson (left) and Gloria Soliz recite their wedding vows before the
Rev. Karen Oliveto Feb. 13 at San Francisco City Hall.
Julie
Williamson (left) and Gloria Soliz recite their wedding vows before the
Rev. Karen Oliveto, pastor of Bethany United Methodist Church, Feb. 13
at San Francisco City Hall. A UMNS photo by Terry Schmitt. Photo number
04-083, Accompanies UMNS #075, 2/25/04
SAN
FRANCISCO (UMNS) - A complaint has been filed against a United
Methodist clergywoman for performing a series of gay wedding ceremonies
after City Hall issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
The
Rev. Karen Oliveto conducted seven ceremonies at San Francisco City
Hall and an eighth in the sanctuary at Bethany United Methodist Church
during the Feb. 15 worship service. Oliveto, Bethany's pastor, said she
was acting on requests by the eight gay or lesbian couples after City
Hall announced it would issue the marriage licenses. The pastor, who
knew all the couples, said she took the requests as "an opportunity to
extend pastoral care" to her parishioners.
Her
district superintendent, the Rev. Jane Schlager, informed her Feb. 19
that a complaint has been filed against her for "disobedience to the
order and discipline of the United Methodist Church." A pastoral and
administrative supervisory meeting in early March with Bishop Beverly
Shamana of the California-Nevada Annual (regional) Conference will be
the next step in the complaint process.
"I
am looking forward to the opportunity of discussing and sharing with
the church the miracle of God moving in our midst in San Francisco and
creating a new world," Oliveto said at a Feb. 22 news conference, with
her congregation standing behind her.
"As a pastor, I have been incredibly moved by this experience," she said.
The
United Methodist Book of Discipline forbids the celebration of same-sex
unions by the denomination's clergy and in its sanctuaries. The book
states that homosexuals are persons of sacred worth, but it condemns the
practice of homosexuality as incompatible with Christian teaching.
Bethany
parishioner Michael Eaton notified Oliveto on Feb. 12 that marriage
licenses were being issued at City Hall. Eaton, a lifelong United
Methodist, immediately asked Oliveto to perform a wedding ceremony for
him and his partner, Sean Higgins.
"We
felt incredibly loved and supported by Karen," Eaton said, "and proud
to have a pastor courageous enough to serve the pastoral needs of all
her congregation." Eaton added that he and Higgins support "family
values" and are adopting a child.
UMNS photo by Terry Schmitt
Church
members lay hands on the Rev. Karen Oliveto following a same-sex
wedding ceremony at Bethany United Methodist Church in San Francisco.
Church
members lay hands on the Rev. Karen Oliveto following a same-sex
wedding ceremony at Bethany United Methodist Church in San Francisco. A
UMNS photo by Terry Schmitt. Photo number 04-084, Accompanies UMNS #075,
2/25/04
Oliveto
said she only performed ceremonies for couples with whom she had a
pastoral relationship or that she had counseled. The next day, Oliveto
did a similar ceremony for Gloria Soliz and her partner of nine years,
Julie Williamson, under the City Hall rotunda.
"She
brought a sacredness to it that made it personal," Williamson said.
Soliz was raised Methodist, but Williamson had no church background, and
now says "the love and support from Bethany UMC has showed me what it's
all about. They all want to celebrate with us."
Though
approached by other couples wanting pastoral blessings, Oliveto said
she politely refused. "I had to say, 'I'm sorry, I'm only here for my
parishioners.' My goal is to be a faithful pastor, and to provide the
deepest and most meaningful experiences that my members can have."
While
acknowledging the denomination's ban on holy unions, Oliveto said she
believes everything has changed with the issuance of
government-sanctioned marriage licenses by the city. She cited Paragraph
331.1(i) in the Book of Discipline: "The decision to perform the
(wedding) ceremony shall be the right and responsibility of the pastor."
In addition, she cited Paragraph 162.H of the Social Principles, "Equal
Rights Regardless of Sexual Orientation": "Certain basic human rights
and civil liberties are due all persons. We are committed to supporting
those rights and liberties for homosexual persons."
However,
others disagree. The Rev. Jim Garrison of Sonora, Calif., president of
the Evangelical Renewal Fellowship, said he is concerned when his clergy
colleagues choose to disobey what he says are clear provisions in the
Book of Discipline.
"These
actions threaten the unity of our whole connection," he said of the
weddings. "The General Conference (meeting in Pittsburgh April 27-May 7)
is the only group that can make rules for the whole church, and
individual pastors are not free to revise those rules. It's a question
of accountability. If we can't enforce our rules, there will be a call
for stronger rules."
The
Rev. Harry Wood of Visalia, Calif., a retired pastor who in 2000 led an
unsuccessful movement for the creation of a separate evangelical
conference, said a clear separation must be maintained between civil
matters and religious matters. "I'm for granting civil rights, but
(these ceremonies) fly in the face of Judeo-Christian tradition."
But
others believe traditions will change in the 21st century. "The world
has shifted radically," Oliveto said. She said she was surprised both by
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's quick actions and her same-sex
parishioners' reactions. "It shows their support for the institution of
marriage."
Oliveto
has been pastor of the diverse Bethany congregation since 1992. In
2002, she earned a doctorate in religion and society from Drew
University with a dissertation on "Movements of Reform, Movements of
Resistance: Homosexuality and The United Methodist Church."
Oliveto
said that performing the recent same-sex ceremonies was "the most
moving thing I've ever done in my ministry - to finally be able to
pronounce them legally wed."
While
performing government-sanctioned gay weddings is unusual, Oliveto isn't
the first United Methodist pastor to face a complaint for celebrating
same-sex union services. Other pastors in recent years have faced
similar complaints, which in some cases have led to well-publicized
clergy trials and loss of credentials. However, not all cases go to
trial. The Book of Discipline lays out a detailed process for handling
complaints and a variety of possible resolutions.