Twenty years ago, Beth Stroud faced a devastating blow to her career as a United Methodist pastor in Philadelphia. She was stripped of her position after being found guilty in a church trial for supposedly violating “Christian teaching.” Her offense? Simply acknowledging that she was living in a committed relationship with another woman.
Earlier this month, the United Methodist Church conference made a significant decision by rejecting the UMC’s long-held policies that discriminated against the LGBTQ community. This decision also opened up a pathway for clergy who were previously removed from their positions due to these discriminatory policies to seek reinstatement.
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Stroud is choosing to take a different path, even as she reflects on how her life was disrupted by her removal in 2004. Unlike some others who have faced discipline from the UMC, Stroud remains optimistic and is hopeful that her pastoral credentials will be reinstated by United Methodist clergy from eastern Pennsylvania at an upcoming meeting.
As Stroud prepared for a church service last Sunday, she took a moment to reflect on what being reinstated would truly signify. Emotions overwhelmed her, and she couldn’t help but shed a tear. “It’s incredible to think about how strong that calling is,” she expressed. “Even after 20 years, I still have a deep desire to return.”
At the age of 54, she has no immediate plans to return to full-time ministry. After three years of teaching writing at Princeton University, she is thrilled to be embarking on a new journey this summer as an assistant professor of Christian history at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. This seminary is one of the 13 seminaries that are operated by the UMC.
Despite taking up a new teaching job, Stroud still yearned for the opportunities that came with being an ordained minister. She hoped to find a congregation to join near the campus in Delaware, Ohio.
“I believe that a church could benefit from my expertise in situations where my credentials hold significance, such as being called upon to lead Communion when the regular pastor is unavailable,” she expressed. “These opportunities would hold great meaning for me.”
Stroud was confident that she had made the right decision when she finally came to a conclusion.
“It was such a satisfying experience for her to compose that email, expressing her desire for reinstatement,” she expressed. “I am determined to remain an active member of the church and contribute to its noble endeavors in society.”
However, it wasn’t an easy decision for her as she closely followed the UMC’s discussions on the anti-LGBTQ policies.
“The initial emotion that washed over me was pure anger – contemplating the potential life I could have led,” she expressed with a hint of regret. “Being a pastor was a role I cherished deeply, and I excelled in it. Given another two decades of experience, I could have made a significant impact, assisting numerous individuals and experiencing immense personal fulfillment.”
Instead of being a pastor, she dedicated several years to pursuing higher education, taking on temporary, non-tenured academic positions to support herself financially. Throughout this period, she faced various obstacles, including a battle with cancer and the dissolution of her marriage to her wife. Despite these challenges, they remained committed to co-parenting their daughter, who was born in 2005.
While Stroud was sitting in the pews on Sunday, she received a special mention from the pastor of Turning Point, Rupert Hall.
According to Hall, “For the past 15 years, we have been fortunate to have a rock star among us at Turning Point. This individual has been an integral part of our organization, providing unwavering love, support, and active participation.”
There was a wave of excitement and jubilation among the crowd as Hall announced that Stroud had been given an opportunity for reinstatement.
The UMC does not have specific data on the number of clergy who have been defrocked for defying anti-LGBTQ bans or the potential number of reinstatements.
Jimmy Creech, who, like Stroud, was expelled from the UMC years ago, will not be exercising this option. In 1999, Creech had his clergy credentials revoked by a church court after he officiated a same-sex union ceremony in North Carolina.
Creech expressed his gratitude for the recent decision made by the General Conference during their proceedings in Charlotte, North Carolina. This decision now allows pastors who have been defrocked, just like him, to be reinstated.
“This move represents an act of reconciliation and restorative justice, aimed at healing the fractured community of the Church,” expressed Creech, who had previously harbored doubts about the possibility of such a development.
Despite being offered the opportunity, 79-year-old Creech has decided not to pursue reinstatement.
Creech became ordained in 1970 and dedicated his service to different parishes in his home state of North Carolina.
Creech delved into biblical studies concerning sexuality and came to the conclusion that “the church was wrong”. This realization propelled him to become an LGBTQ activist in North Carolina. He briefly served as a pastor in Nebraska, where he faced a church trial for officiating a union ceremony for two women in 1997. Although he was acquitted, he faced further consequences after returning to North Carolina and officiating a ceremony for two men in 1999, which ultimately resulted in his defrocking.
After that, Creech continued his ministry and frequently served as a guest preacher in churches across the country.
“I came to the realization that I haven’t changed as a person. I still possess the qualities of a pastor. The church didn’t strip me of that. It simply took away a title from me.”
Amy DeLong, a lesbian pastor from Wisconsin, has been a tireless advocate for LGBTQ inclusion in the UMC for several years. She demonstrated her commitment by establishing an advocacy organization, actively participating in protests against the bans at General Conferences, and even conducting a same-sex union. Despite facing a church trial in 2011 and being suspended from ministry for 20 days, Amy never wavered in her determination to fight for equality.
In 2019, she witnessed the bans being upheld once again during that year’s UMC General Conference. However, by 2021, she had reached her breaking point. After dedicating almost twenty-five years to her role as a UMC minister, DeLong decided to take early retirement.
“I couldn’t bear the hypocrisy any longer,” DeLong expressed, no longer identifying as a Methodist. “In my view, the harm they were causing outweighed any good they were contributing. They no longer hold the power to influence or have any authority over me.”
DeLong appreciates the decision to lift the UMC’s bans, but notes that LGBTQ pastors within the church continue to experience inequality.
“It’s a relief that language is no longer present in our lives. It was something that we should have never embraced,” she expressed. “However, the overwhelming weight of senseless violence burdens me greatly.”
The UMC was the final major mainline Protestant group to reverse its policies that excluded LGBTQ individuals from marriage and ministry. LGBTQ individuals who were religious played a significant role in advocating for change across various denominations. This is exemplified by the Shower of Stoles, an exhibit curated by the National LGBTQ Task Force, which showcases liturgical vestments worn by activist clergy and members from the UMC, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and other churches.
Cathy Renna, the spokesperson for the task force, highlighted the immense challenges that queer individuals have encountered within faith communities. She also acknowledged the remarkable courage of those who have bravely asserted their values and faith despite these obstacles.
