Love on Trial

On April 11, 2011, Rev. Amy DeLong, United Methodist Clergy in the Wisconsin Annual Conference, will be tried for living a larger love than is permitted by the United Methodist Church. Rev. DeLong finds herself on the wrong side of church law because of:

• Pastoral Care (she officiated at the Holy Union of a loving lesbian couple) and
• Love (she and Val, her partner of 15 years, share a life-affirming, deeply loving relationship).

In December, the Conference Committee on Investigation, following a required hearing with Rev. DeLong, forwarded the Bill of Charges needed to move into the trial phase of the judicial process. The committee also offered an unprecedented affirming statement:

"Rev. Amy DeLong has shown extraordinary courage to step forward and freely acknowledge her sexual orientation, and her commitment to be in ministry to all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation."

Wisconsin Bishop, Linda Lee, has named Bishop Bruce Blake as the Presiding Officer (judge) for the trial. Rev. Donald Frank has agreed to serve as Counsel for the Church (prosecuting attorney) and Rev. Scott Campbell of MASS. will serve as Amy's Counsel for the Defense (defense attorney); Rev. Ermalou Roller, who is affiliated with our church, serves with Campbell on Amy's Defense Team. A jury pool of Wisconsin United Methodist clergy will now be assembled and, from that pool, 13 clergy will be selected to serve during the trial and subsequent penalty phase.

Rev. DeLong is on a difficult path that has been well-traveled by gay and lesbian Christians and countless others (including women and people from a variety of racial and ethnic groups) who have been told by the Church that their identity and being are unacceptable.

Please pray for and work toward the day when The United Methodist Church will surrender to the fullness of God's expansive love and end its restrictions and discriminatory policies. Pray also for Rev. DeLong and Val and all those engaged in the struggle for fairness, equality and inclusion.

If you are willing to send Rev. DeLong an encouraging message, contribute to her defense fund and/or wish to have more information, visit her website at http://www.loveontrial.org.