Morality vs. Theology: Some Thoughts on Rev. Frank Schaefer and Gay Marriage in the UMC

Question: how do you think the church should act in the world if the goal is to follow Jesus' command to love others as God loves us? What does this look like in action?

You know what it doesn't look like? This:

United Methodist church officials defrocked a pastor from central Pennsylvania on Thursday who violated religious doctrine by officiating his son's gay wedding, and he later said he was shocked by their decision, calling his involvement in the wedding an "act of love."

Rev. Frank Schafer, in 2007, traveled to Massachusetts from his home in Pennsylvania to marry his gay son and his partner. This was no problem until this year, when a congregant at his church found out and informed the East Pennsylvania Annual Conference. Who decided that Rev. Schaefer should no longer be a Methodist minister. Despite the fact that the Revered was out of state at a private ceremony, and was following the moral dictates of his own heart.

I posted an article the other day on Facebook about Phil Robertson. This point is made in that article that I absolutely think sums up Rev. Schaefer's case:

When faced with the choice between being theologically correct…as if this is even possible…and being morally responsible, I’ll go with morally responsible every time. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor and theologian during World War II. He firmly held the theological position of nonviolence. He believed that complete pacifism was theologically correct. And yet, in the midst of the war, he conspired to assassinate Adolf Hitler; to kill a fellow man. Why? Because in light of what he saw happening to the Jews around him by the Nazis, he felt that it would be morally irresponsible not to. Between the assassination of Hitler and nonviolence, he felt the greater sin would be nonviolence.

I love that first line. "When faced with the choice between being theologically correct and being morally responsible, I'll go with morally responsible every time." If, as a Christian, we feel called to accept the LGBT community, and to affirm their life and their love, then we are morally obligated to do so. To do anything less would to be morally compromised and untrue to ourselves.

The other part of this story that really jumps out at me is this quote from Rev. Schaefer:

"So many of them came to me and they shook my hand and some hugged me, and so many of them had tears in their eyes," Schaefer said. "They said, 'We really don't want to do this, you know that, don't you?'"

Tony Campolo, in his book Red Letter Christians, tells the story of a young man from an Anabaptist Peace church during the Vietnam War who is brought before a court for refusing military service. He explains before the judge his moral opposition to warfare, and why, as a pacifist, he cannot perform military service. The judge listens sympathetically and tells the young man he understands his concerns and sympathizes, but he has no alternative to sentencing him. The young man looks at him and says, "You do have choice, Judge! You can resign!" Maybe the Board of Ordination should read this story. Maybe then they could help the church move towards the Kingdom, rather than away from it.

For more information on the gay rights movement within the UMC, I strongly suggest you check out Reconciling Ministries. It's a great resource, and on the forefront of the future of the Methodist church.