Chicago, Ill. (Feb. 23) A United Methodist pastor threatened with having
his ordination removed for conducting a service of Holy Union for two men will go to
church trial on Thursday, March 25. The denomination’s regional Committee on
Investigation today formally charged Rev. Gregory Dell, pastor of the Broadway United
Methodist Church in Chicago, with "disobedience to the Order and Discipline of the
United Methodist Church." The Committee functions similar to a "Grand Jury"
for such charges. The three-day church trial will be held at the First United Methodist
Church of Downers Grove, IL, and will be open to the public. The trial will be conducted
before a jury of 13 clergy selected from a pool of 36 nominated from the
denomination’s Northern Illinois region. A majority of nine votes is required for
conviction. If Pastor Dell is found guilty, the jury will determine the penalty, ranging
from withdrawal of the credentials of ordination to a suspension for some period of time
to "a lesser penalty."
"Not only is the decision expected, it is actually welcome," Pastor Dell said
in response to the Committee’s decision. "The trial will be an occasion for the
Church to consider this matter in the context of real ministry with real people.
"It is unfair to the thousands of people on all sides of this controversial issue
to continue debating it in the abstract," Dell said. "The love that God offers
is not theoretical. The Church must decide if it truly wants to declare that its
affirmation of God’s embracing, celebrating acceptance is available to some but not
others who want to live in faithful relationships of commitment and love."
Clergy persons selected as church and defense counsels will argue the case. Bishop C.
Joseph Sprague, in accordance with the denomination’s Discipline selected as Church
counsel the Rev. Stephen Williams, pastor of First United Methodist Church, Franklin Park,
IL. Assistant counsel for the Church is James Geoly, Esq.
Pastor Dell selected as defense counsel the Rev. Dr. Larry Pickens, Esq., pastor of
Maple Park United Methodist Church in Chicago. Assistant counsels for Pastor Dell are
Theodore M. Swain, Esq. of the law firm Gould and Ratner, and Antonious L.K. Porch, Esq.
Presiding over the proceedings will be Bishop Jack Tuell from the United Methodist Council
of Bishops.
Pastor Dell has conducted 33 services of Holy Union for gay and lesbian couples during
the past 18 of his 30 years of pastoral service. He has said he "will never stop
doing such services as long as I have my ordination." He contends that to refuse such
services is to discriminate against the approximately 30% of the congregation that he
serves which is gay.
"I took a vow to be in ministry with all persons-not regardless of their
identity but in celebration of their identity," Rev. Dell said. "I’m
expected to Baptize, teach, counsel, visit, bury and learn from all of the persons to whom
I’ve been appointed to pastor. I’m also charged to bless and celebrate
relationships of love between persons when those relationships uphold standards of
faithfulness and ministry. It is a privilege-not a duty-to do so. To withhold such
blessing from some because of their identity and regardless of the quality of their
relationships would be the true violation of my ordination."
Response to the Trial
Broadway Church and representatives of numerous other United Methodist churches and
organizations throughout the Northern Illinois region are organizing various forms of
witness in response to the trial and to provide support for people planning to attend the
trial. Plans include:
1) Transportation and housing information
Volunteers are coordinating: directions to First United Methodist Church; information
about public transportation; suggestions for parking; a schedule for busing people from
remote parking areas, if necessary; information about housing available in private homes
and hotels in the area.
2) Onsite hospitality
Volunteers will oversee an onsite hospitality room with: refreshments; area restaurant
suggestions; a message board; collection of financial contributions to support the defense
of Pastor Dell.
3) Daily worship services
Volunteers are developing a worship service that will occur each morning before the
trial begins for the day. An additional worship service will be conducted immediately
following delivery of the verdict on Saturday, March 27. Pastor Dell is expected to speak
at that service.
4) Daily prayer vigil
A prayer vigil will be held each day of the trial while the hearings are in session.
Individuals who are interested in participating will commit to one-hour, pre-scheduled
timeframes of prayer and reflection.
5) Morning outdoor demonstration of support
Each morning before the trial begins for the day, supporters of Pastor Dell and
Broadway Church will organize outside of First United Methodist Church in a
non-interactive demonstration of support for justice and inclusion. Similar to
Broadway’s Circle of Care in November 1998, participants will receive armbands
signifying their participation in the demonstration. Broadway encourages all interested
churches and organizations to bring signs and banners that affirm love, justice and
equality.
6) Community witness events
Representatives from the Evanston, Oak Park and Lakeview communities are being invited
to organize special witnesses to occur on Friday, March 26-the night before the verdict.
It is anticipated that the witnesses will take the form of candlelight vigils.
7) Worship service ideas for churches unable to attend trial
Supportive churches unable to be present at the trial site can show their support from
a distance with candlelight vigils, prayer services and special liturgy that affirms
justice and inclusion. A "Liturgy for Justice and Inclusion" will be made
available along with samples of the hundreds of letters that have been received in support
of the call for inclusiveness within the United Methodist Church.
8) Press Conference
A press conference will be held on Saturday, March 27, at First United Methodist Church
immediately after the worship service that will follow the delivery of the verdict.
For More Information
Churches and individuals interested in participating in any of the above activities may
access information in the ways listed on the following page:
Telephone hotline: Individuals may call the "Trial Information
Hotline" at 1-312-683-5166. Callers will hear a recorded message detailing the
development of activities regarding the trial, and information about who they can contact
for more details about a specific area.
Pastor Dell conducted the Holy Union service, which gave rise to the charges, on
September 19, 1998. When the event came to the attention of Bishop Sprague, who presides
over the denomination’s churches in Northern Illinois (the Northern Illinois Annual
Conference), the Bishop filed a complaint against Rev. Dell. In writing the complaint the
Bishop affirmed his personal agreement with Dell’s theological and pastoral position.
He took the action "despite my high regard for the Reverend Dell, as a person of
integrity, who possesses an enviable record of pastoral faithfulness and effectiveness.
…"
The trial of Rev. Dell will be the first on the issue of Holy Unions since the
denomination declared in August 1998 that the prohibition against conducting such services
is binding on all United Methodist clergy. That declaration was made by the Judicial
Council, which functions as a "Supreme Court" for the United Methodist Church.
The Judicial Council had been asked to rule on the status of legislation passed at the
denomination’s last national General Conference legislative meeting in 1996.
Members and friends of Broadway United Methodist Church, celebrating Rev. Dell’s
pastoral faithfulness to all people, have created The Justice Fund for costs associated
with a Church complaint of this nature. Those wishing to help can make gifts payable to:
Broadway United Methodist Church, with the words Justice Fund noted on the memo
line.
