Community

US: Texas Christian group to rally in support of suspended minister who officiated at gay wedding

Apr 29 2014
Written by Aaron Day

A North Texas Christian group has announced plans to deliver a petition to the United Methodist Church after it suspended an 85-year-old minister for officiating at a same-sex wedding.

Retired United Methodist minister Bill McElvaney was suspended in March for officiating at the same-sex wedding of two men in their 80s.

Now, according to the Christian group Faithful America, the UMC is considering filing a formal complaint against the reverend emiratus.

KHou reports that Faithful America is to deliver a petition on Tuesday of more than 19,000 signatures “urging no more church trials.”

The group plans to hand the petition over to Bishop Mckee, who it says is making plans to condemn Reverend McElvaney.

In his original statement, the reverend emeritus said: “I would like to ask Northaven members to hold the bishop, the complainant and me in your prayerful concerns as the process unfolds. I encourage no other response to the bishop’s letter at this time.”

Reverend McElvaney is also battling cancer, and had radiation treatment just days before the wedding. He performed the ceremony sitting down at a non-methodist church.

On announcing his decision to officiate at the wedding, Reverend McElvaney said: ”It’s all about acceptance as human beings,” McElvaney said, in part. “About not having one’s worth voted on by peers who believe a few scriptural passages…”