United Methodist top court says election of lesbian bishop is violation of church law

The United Methodist Church's (UMC) highest court has ruled that the election of an openly lesbian clergywoman to the position of a bishop was a violation of the denomination's law.

In a 6–3 decision on Friday, the United Methodist Judicial Council ruled that the Western Jurisdiction violated church law when it elected Karen Oliveto as the bishop of UMC's Mountain Sky Area, which includes churches in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and a church in Idaho.

"It is not lawful for the college of bishops of any jurisdictional or central conference to consecrate a self-avowed practicing homosexual bishop," the council stated in the decision, according to United Methodist News Service.

"Under the long-standing principle of legality, no individual member or entity may violate, ignore or negate church law," it continued.

The Judicial Council noted that Oliveto will remain as bishop until an administrative or judicial process takes place.

John Lomperis, the United Methodist director of the Institute on Religion & Democracy, expressed disappointment that Oliveto was not removed from office. However, he said that he celebrates the council's ruling because it would now be easier to "bring accountability for pastors who choose to violate biblical standards for sexual self-control."

"We are slowly but increasingly strengthening biblical accountability in our church," he said, according to Religion News Service.

Oliveto, who became the first openly gay bishop of the UMC last July, has faced several complaints about her election.

Dixie Brewster, a lay delegate to last year's regional South Central Jurisdictional Conference, filed a motion asking the Judicial Council to decide whether the nomination, election, assignment or consecration of an openly gay or lesbian bishop is lawful under the Book of Discipline, the denomination's law book.

The Book of Discipline states that "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching," which means that "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" cannot be ordained as ministers.

Although Brewster did not name Oliveto in the motion, the bishop became the focus of the council's open hearing in Newark on Tuesday.

The complaint about Oliveto's election was part of the UMC's overall debate on its stance on homosexuality, which the denomination labels "incompatible with Christian teaching."

Last week, the UMC announced that it will hold a General Conference in February 2019 to discuss the ordination of LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage.