Gay Minister to Face Jury of Methodist Peers: "Stroud's sermon was a challenge to the national church's rule against self-avowed gay men and women in the ministry, and it set in motion an investigation and charges that will culminate Wednesday in a church trial before a jury of fellow ministers. If Stroud, 34, is found guilty of "practices declared by the United Methodist Church to be incompatible with Christian teachings," she may lose her credentials as a minister.
Like many other mainline Protestant denominations, the Methodist Church has been deeply divided for three decades over homosexuality, particularly in the clergy. Stroud is the third minister to face trial for violating its "don't ask, don't tell" policy...
[Stroud] asked parishioners to concentrate on providing emotional support to her and to one another.
'You're a great church for protest marches. You're not always so great at casseroles,' she said. 'But this situation may call for casserole.'"
