United Methodist court rules against consecrating gay and lesbian bishops
Karen Oliveto (left) meets Dixie Brewster (right) for the first time prior to a United Methodist Judicial Council meeting in Newark, New Jersey, in April 2017. Brewster was a petitioner questioning whether a gay or lesbian pastor such as Oliveto can serve as a UM bishop. They said they are praying for each other and the church. At rear is Keith Boyette, who represented Brewster before the council. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.
At the end of the day, Karen Oliveto remains a bishop even after the United Methodist Church’s top court ruled that consecrating a gay bishop violates church law.
The Judicial Council said that such a bishop would still be in “good standing” until a local administrative or judicial process is completed.
“It has been a very stressful time of waiting—waiting for clarity,” Oliveto said. “I’m very excited that I get to continue to do the job God has called me to do and that the community has affirmed—and that we get to return to the Mountain Sky Area to work with clergy and laity there.”
