Everett, Wash.
Published: Sunday, July 5, 2009

CHURCHES

Wrong to imply others are phobic

 I would like to take exception to the statements in the June 27 article, "Gay-friendly shift at 2 churches." The article indicates that the United Methodist denomination has prohibitions against gay/lesbian membership. This is not true. The following is taken from the official United Methodist Web site:

"In its Book of Discipline, the (United Methodist) church declares the practice to be "incompatible with Christian teaching." But while the church has proscriptions against ordination of "practicing" homosexual clergy and clergy conducting same-sex ceremonies in United Methodist churches, it has no specific law about church membership and homosexual practice."

Membership decisions are made on an individual basis. The tone of the article would leave you to believe that the rest of us are a group of homophobic hypocrites, which is also not true. The Reverend Smith should know better than that.

William Lempe
Snohomish
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA