Bishop Sally Dyck, recently installed as head of the church’s Northern Illinois Conference, met face to face with [Michael] Overman regarding his decision to leave. She insisted that the church does not take a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach.
“We are saddened to lose a gifted person going toward ministry,” she said. “‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ is not the approach taken when referring to the church law, which bars the ordination or appointment of ‘self-avowed practicing homosexuals.’ The district committee appreciated and respected Michael’s honesty about his personal relationship and in turn had to be honest with Michael about the reality that the Board of Ordained Ministry is bound by the current laws in the Book of Discipline.
“This is the tension our denomination continues to struggle with and discerns as the United Methodist Church also acknowledges in the Book of Discipline that all persons are of sacred worth,” she added.
“Last year, Johnson joined more than 200 elders, deacons and pastors in the church’s Northern Illinois Conference who pledged to defy national church policy and bless same-sex unions.” And there is a question about ordination? How could anyone that pledged to openly defy the denominations canons expect to be ordained? Unless of course they are liberal members in TEC. The presiding “bishop” sseems to thrive on defying canons. I guess the Methodist are just a little stricter when considering someone for ordained ministry.