DC Clergy Torn Between Church and Civil Loyalties on the Freedom to Marry

As reported by Daniel Burke in The Washington Post:

"'The institutional church has for so many years oppressed and excluded and harmed our [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] sisters and brothers,' Totty said. 'We have to say: Enough already. These are people's lives and loves that we continue to exclude from the fullness of life in the church.'

"Nineteen other current and former United Methodist clergy in the District have signed a statement supporting Totty and Dumbarton UMC, the small, liberal congregation that she has pastored since July. Many others campaigned to legalize the freedom to marry in the city. But only Totty has been willing to put her job on the line.

"'It's very hard,' said the Rev. Dean Snyder, who supports Totty and leads Foundry United Methodist Church, one of the city's largest Methodist congregations, where one in four members is gay or lesbian. 'We have no desire to defy the larger denomination; at the same time we want to minister to all members of our congregation.'"

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