imported_GayGroups
03-14-2004, 05:32 AM
SAN FRANCISCO - About two dozen parishioners gathered Saturday to sing hymns and hold discussions in support of a San Francisco minister who could lose her job for performing a same-sex marriage ceremony in a church.
The Rev. Karen Oliveto was called in front of a United Methodist Church bishop last week after a formal complaint criticized her for officiating at the marriage ceremony of two men in Bethany United Methodist Church on Feb. 15.
The bishop has not yet issued any statement on the complaint against Oliveto, who performed a total of 14 same-sex marriage ceremonies after San Francisco began issuing licenses to gay and lesbian couples.
Oliveto could face a church trial and the loss of her pastoral duties.
United Methodist Church district superintendent Jane Schlager, who attended the Saturday meeting at Bethany, said the bishop is considering the issue carefully.
"It's all gray area," Schlager said. "We've made no conclusions at this point. As things are revealed to us, we will work it through."
Parishioners from around the Bay Area and representatives of seven recently married same-sex couples showed up Saturday to support Oliveto. Many thanked Oliveto for doing what they believe God wanted her to do.
"My concern is really to change the leaders of this church to be bold," said Judy Creedy of Berkeley, who was married to her partner of 21 years by Oliveto on Feb. 13. "This is what Jesus is calling people to do."
"The church hasn't caught up to where God is," said Fern Jo Kaukonen of Fremont, who said marrying her partner of 16 years on Feb. 19 gave her a sense of being "whole."
"Being married very clearly means that I'm equal," she said.
Oliveto said she considered the ceremonies part of her pastoral duty. As proof, Oliveto cited the many e-mails and phone calls of support she has received from across the nation.
"I'd say it's 99 to 1 in support," Oliveto said. "I did the right thing. If I had refused to do the marriage, I would have been disobedient to the charge given me."
Stephen Drachler, a spokesman for the United Methodist Church, said that the complaint against Oliveto is a confidential matter to be decided by the regional Northern California-Nevada authorities. If a decision is not reached, it may then go to an April general conference, where about a thousand clergy and non-clergy would decide on the issue.
"A church trial is seen as the last resort in the process," Drachler said, "and would only occur if there was no other resolution."
The United Methodist Church only officially recognizes marriage between a man and a woman.
The Rev. Karen Oliveto was called in front of a United Methodist Church bishop last week after a formal complaint criticized her for officiating at the marriage ceremony of two men in Bethany United Methodist Church on Feb. 15.
The bishop has not yet issued any statement on the complaint against Oliveto, who performed a total of 14 same-sex marriage ceremonies after San Francisco began issuing licenses to gay and lesbian couples.
Oliveto could face a church trial and the loss of her pastoral duties.
United Methodist Church district superintendent Jane Schlager, who attended the Saturday meeting at Bethany, said the bishop is considering the issue carefully.
"It's all gray area," Schlager said. "We've made no conclusions at this point. As things are revealed to us, we will work it through."
Parishioners from around the Bay Area and representatives of seven recently married same-sex couples showed up Saturday to support Oliveto. Many thanked Oliveto for doing what they believe God wanted her to do.
"My concern is really to change the leaders of this church to be bold," said Judy Creedy of Berkeley, who was married to her partner of 21 years by Oliveto on Feb. 13. "This is what Jesus is calling people to do."
"The church hasn't caught up to where God is," said Fern Jo Kaukonen of Fremont, who said marrying her partner of 16 years on Feb. 19 gave her a sense of being "whole."
"Being married very clearly means that I'm equal," she said.
Oliveto said she considered the ceremonies part of her pastoral duty. As proof, Oliveto cited the many e-mails and phone calls of support she has received from across the nation.
"I'd say it's 99 to 1 in support," Oliveto said. "I did the right thing. If I had refused to do the marriage, I would have been disobedient to the charge given me."
Stephen Drachler, a spokesman for the United Methodist Church, said that the complaint against Oliveto is a confidential matter to be decided by the regional Northern California-Nevada authorities. If a decision is not reached, it may then go to an April general conference, where about a thousand clergy and non-clergy would decide on the issue.
"A church trial is seen as the last resort in the process," Drachler said, "and would only occur if there was no other resolution."
The United Methodist Church only officially recognizes marriage between a man and a woman.