Gay Mormon faces dismissal
A gay Mormon is facing expulsion from the church after marrying his partner in Canada.
Buckley Jeppson has revealed that he received a verbal warning that his actions oppose the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that disciplinary action may be taken.
A gay Mormon group, Affirmation, believe that his dismissal would be the first time a Mormon in a gay partnership has been punished in this way.
Mr Jeppson told the Associated Press, “It’s not going to be my choice to deny my heritage and my faith.”
“I’m not attending in a dress or wearing a boa or anything, I show up in my suit and white shirt and split after sacrament meeting. I just want to participate and I want to worship quietly in a safe place.”
“We’re talking about my family, my heritage, my faith, the subject of my continued study. This is not membership in the country club”
“There is a symbolism there that really means something to me.”
A spokeswoman from his church in Salt Lake City said, the Mormon church only recognizes marriage between a man and a woman, she added, “If the person later decides to reject these core principles, they have the right and freedom to do so, however, they cannot reasonably expect to reject the most fundamental teachings of the church and still wrap themselves in the cloak of church membership. Of course, they would be welcome to continue to attend church services.”
