Separation of Church and State?
I just read an article that made me sick. NPR has carried a story (find it here) about several instances of same-sex couples bringing lawsuits against various institutions and/or individuals because of discrimination.
I can’t really comment on some of the instances addressed in this report, but the primary instance I do have to deal with. Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, which is Methodist-owned and operated, has been sued over not allowing a civil union for two women in one of its pavilions. This is problematic because Methodist Church governance laws specifically prohibit the celebration of same-sex unions (call them what you will) by its clergy or in its facilities. This is not an ambiguous position that is open to interpretation; it is extremely transparent.
And yet the couple who brought suit against Ocean Grove won and, because the pavilion is open to everyone, they have to accommodate everyone.
That has some serious implications for all religions, not just the Methodist variety of Christianity. There are not too many churches in America that would even insinuate that they are not open to everyone, so does this mean that these churches, since everyone can come in their facilities, have to accommodate the belief systems and lifestyles of everyone who does come in their facilities? First a Methodist-owned campground, next a Baptist-owned church? After all, they open their building to everyone!
Now I am not simplistic, nor was I born yesterday, but when did the separation of church and state disintegrate to such an extent that the state can decide against and fine a church for simply adhering to its beliefs? This is especially problematic when you consider that the particular belief in question is a 2000 year historic position of the church, and it is a belief whose contrary view (the state’s position in this case) is not universally agreed upon by all states.
Call me crazy, but I don’t think this bodes well for any religion.
~ by stevebruns on June 16, 2008.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags: methodist, social issues
Good Morning,
I think the best reference to this subject might be the US Supreme Court case of the Boy Scouts of America v Dale. In this case, the Supreme Court said that Dale, a gay man wanting to be a boy scout leader, could be barred from the position due to policies that the Boy Scouts of America have in place. Their case was that all people are not eligible to participate. So, maybe the trustees need to take a double-check of their policies. If they are set and implemented fairly to all people, then there is a framework of decision-making that can be supported. At the same time, the policies need to be balanced and fair to all people the organization/church is inviting in. I don’t know if this helps, but it is what came to mind when reading the story.
Methodistchick and student of public administration in Utah
That is exactly what bothers me about this court decision in the Ocean Grove case. The Methodist Church clearly spells out that homosexual unions are not to be permitted in any Methodist facilities. And yet the court decided against Ocean Grove.
Maybe I am missing something here, and if I am, I sure wish someone would fill me in.
Maybe it deserves an appeal?
According to the article, they are in the process of appealing the decision, so hopefully this will get discussed. The problem I have is that the denomination’s position on this was ignored in the first case. Hopefully that won’t be the pattern for future cases.
I too find this very hard to take; however, as I read down in your blog I seemed to find the answer that we may need when you remind us that God isn’t dumb. Is this a way of life that we have to accept? No, do we have to live beside it? Although our first amendment right guarantees us the right to protest it seems as if we are heading down the path and will be living side by side. I only pray that God shows us the way to deal with this conflict.
Bethany,
Thanks for the input. I agree we need to pray. I also am amazed that, while God is not dumb, humans have an amazing ability to make extremely dumb decisions when money, politics, or groupthink is at work behind the scenes.