A decision on the Rev. Gregory Dell's appeal of his suspension bythe United Methodist Church for marrying two gays will come in 30 to60 days, officials announced Monday.
Church attorney Stephen Williams said "the odds are long" againstDell, suspended pastor of Broadway United Methodist Church, 3344 N.Broadway, after both sides presented their cases to a church appealspanel at a public hearing.
Dell would not predict the outcome, but said the struggle tominister to gays, lesbians and bisexuals will continue. "It can't beput to rest as long as real human beings are suffering," he said.
In a request made public at the hearing in the Radisson Hotel inRosemont, Dell's attorney asked that if Dell loses, a date be set toend his suspension, which is indefinite. But Williams said thesuspension won't end until Dell pledges never to perform anotherhomosexual wedding ceremony.
The dispute has thrown the church into turmoil and is beingwatched by other denominations grappling with issues aroundministering to homosexuals.
Williams said gays are welcome to join the church in the hope thatits "redemptive and transformative effect" will persuade them to giveup homosexual practices.
Dell officiated at a marriage of two men last September at theBroadway church, where about a third of the congregation's more than200 members are gay. He was suspended after being found guilty ofdisobedience during a March church trial.
Dell's counsel, the Rev. Larry Pickens, said there was no clearevidence that violation of a rule against performing same-sexmarriages constituted disobedience. He also argued that the terms ofDell's suspension were "tantamount to a revocation of hiscredentials" as a minister.
"If you prove the violation, you prove the disobedience," Williamsresponded.
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