Homosexual Pastor Suspended (Press, 3 June 1971)
This is a Generative AI summary of this newspaper article. It may contain errors or omissions. Please note that the language in the summary is reflective of the original article and the societal attitudes of the time in which it was written.
Summary: Homosexual Pastor Suspended (Press, 3 June 1971)
On 2 June 1971, Mr Gene Leggett, a 36-year-old self-identified homosexual clergyman from Dallas, was suspended from the Methodist ministry in a heated gathering of the South-West Texas United Methodist annual conference. This decision followed a 144-117 vote by the conference delegates after Mr Leggett had received support from members of the Gay Liberation Front, who had demanded an end to the perceived harassment of him. Mr Leggett had dedicated over a decade of service to the United Methodist Church and was actively involved in running a home called "House of the Covenant" that aimed to assist individuals whom he felt the Church had neglected, including homosexuals. During the conference, he expressed his desire to continue ministering within the Church, emphasising his commitment to his faith and work. Despite Church officials clarifying that Mr Leggett could have remained a minister in other capacities, he declined their conditions, stating he did not believe he was "unacceptable to the work of the ministry." The officials had determined that he was unsuitable for the position, but did not disclose specific reasons for this decision. The board's conclusion followed Mr Leggett’s public announcement of his homosexuality at a previous meeting of Methodist ministers. There was contention within the conference regarding the handling of Mr Leggett's case, with some delegates suggesting that there should be a church trial to address his homosexuality explicitly. Mr Leggett himself assumed that the suspension was rooted in his sexual orientation. Shortly after the decision was made, some ministers announced their intention to leave the ministry in protest, illustrating the division within the church over the issue. Reflecting on the proceedings, Mr Leggett called attention to the negative attitudes he faced, urging for a more compassionate approach to addressing the challenges homosexuals encounter within the Church. He expressed disappointment over the reaction from some members of the conference, asking for greater awareness and accountability in the face of such discrimination.
Important Information
The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact
The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand