Minister disciplined, refused membership to gay man

SOUTH HILL, Va. — A United Methodist minister in South Hill, Va., has been put on involuntary administrative leave for refusing to allow an openly gay man to become a church member.

Ed Johnson, senior pastor of South Hill United Methodist Church, was disciplined in a closed-door executive session at the church’s statewide annual conference held in mid-June. United Methodist officials did not grant interviews on the subject until July. At issue is how the Methodists’ constitution deals with homosexuality and church membership.

“The social principles in the Book of Discipline make it clear that the church does not condone the practice of homosexuality,” said Tom Thomas, who defended Johnson at the meeting. “Members … take certain vows. The first is that persons acknowledge the spiritual forces of wickedness and repent of their sins.”