Judicial Council set to decide MIND case this week

The Judicial Council, the UMC’s highest judicial body, is meeting this week in New Orleans and one of the things on its docket is the review of Bishop Park’s ruling that MIND’s Ministry to the Marginalized resolution was out of order when it came before annual conference this year. The resolution called on the conference to take out ads in LGBT publications publicizing its longstanding opposition to official UMC doctrine and policies that exclude gay people. It’s exactly the kind of message so urgently needed right now, when violence against LGBT people is on the rise, but the bishop refused to let the resolution come to a vote. MIND challenged his ruling, and the Judicial Council will decide whether it should stand or be overturned. Either way, since Park’s stated objection to the resolution is easily addressed with a minor change in language, MIND will bring the resolution to annual conference again in 2011 so that the message that God welcomes LGBT people can get out to LGBT people. Read the resolution, the bishop’s ruling and MIND’s Judicial Council brief here.

The Judicial Council is also considering other LGBT-related cases, and MIND members Nehemiah Luckett and Ann Craig will be arguing one case before the Council. In addition, local reconciling activists have organized a prayer vigil and several others from around the country will also be in New Orleans to add to the witness both inside and outside the Council proceedings.