Facing possible schism between those who support and oppose same-sex marriage, United Methodists are attempting to settle differences through intimate mediation processes called “just resolutions.” But more than a year of these agreements from Michigan to Alabama shows how elusive reconciliation truly is.
Bishops and other clergy began looking for another alternative after the hugely controversial spectacle in 2013 of a church trial for a Pennsylvania pastor who officiated at his son’s marriage to another man. Since then, at least nine other Methodist clergy — including two in Virginia — who performed the banned weddings have gone through a mediation process with their accusers.
Read Full Article »