I violated the Book of Discipline: A Letter to Bishop Trimble

In a moment of personal privilege at the 2016 Iowa Annual Conference, Anna Blaedel eloquently spoke of the harm she has experienced through the United Methodist Church as an "out, queer, partnered, clergy." See Anna's moment of personal privilege

A complaint has been filed against Anna by three United Methodist clergymen in the Iowa Conference for professing herself as "a self-avowed practicing homosexual."

While the complaint has been filed against Anna alone, the truth is, all United Methodist clergy in Iowa who were a part of her District Committee on Ministry, the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Clergy session of the Annual Conference, and the Cabinet and Bishops who knowingly approved her for ordination and appointed her in ministry are in violation of the Book of Discipline. (Paragraph 304.30 of the Book of Discipline states, "self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church")

While Anna and other LGBTQ clergy are made to bear the burden of complaints, and possible charges, trials and loss of credentials, the system that does harm to LGBTQ persons does not operate without the assent of us all!

Anna was commissioned in 2008 and ordained in 2010.  If you were on Anna's District Committee on Ministry, the Board of Ordained Ministry that approved her, or if you knowingly approved Anna for ordination at clergy session, you may stand in solidarity with her by adding your name to the following letter to Bishop Trimble:

Dear Bishop Trimble,

By supporting and ultimately voting to approve Anna Blaedel for ordination as an elder in full connection, I knowingly, and gladly, violated the Book of Discipline, and I did it out of love. Since the Discipline states that 'self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church' (¶ 304.3), I committed the chargeable offense of 'dis-obedience to the order and discipline of The United Methodist Church' (¶ 2702.1d) in my affirmation of Anna. I did so as a follower of Jesus, practicing biblical obedience.

While Anna is the one who is bearing the burden of the complaint that has been filed against her, it is the entire system and all of us in it that need to be brought to trial because this system that does harm to persons who are LGBTQ does not operate without the assent of us all.