Retired Bishop Donald Ott was among those speaking for gay rights in the UMC at a Common Witness Coalition press conference today.“I hope to live long enough to attend the General Conference when we have an act of repentance on this matter,” he said.
Ott helped pull together a letter last year signed by 36 retired bishops, calling on the UMC to ordain openly gay persons as clergy.
Also at today’s event, which included a bbq lunch, was the Rev. Kent Millard, part of the Call to Action team, and retired pastor of 6,500-member St. Luke’s UMC in Indianapolis. Millard: “I’m supportive of a totally inclusive church, and I surrender to God for the timing of when it happens.”
Two black scholars at UMC seminaries, Pamela Lightsey and Cheryl Anderson, also attended and voiced support for a fully inclusive denomination.
The Common Witness Coalition consists of unofficial caucuses and other UMC groups that support changing the church’s official position that homosexual practice is incompatible with Christian teaching.
