Don't Escalate the War

            The Covenantal Unity Plan (CUP) proposed by Dr. Bill Arnold is more likely to escalate the 44 year civil war in the United Methodist Church over LGBTQ inclusion than to lessen it. This General Conference legislation would enact severe mandatory sentences for pastors who officiate at same gender weddings. Many clergy would face immediate dismissal and loss of their credentials. This would only lead to greater conflict in our denomination.

            Dr. Arnold is a professor at multi-denominational Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. I’ll be bringing my Tent Witness to the Asbury campus on Friday, April 15 to protest discrimination in our church and Dr. Arnold’s CUP proposal. I’ve been sleeping outside in a tent for the past 140 nights to symbolize how our church is pushing LGBTQ persons outside into the cold.  

 I will be directly affected if the CUP legislation is approved. I officiated at the same gender wedding for my daughter Sarah and Ali (pictured) in 2014. Last summer I officiated at the wedding of Rev. Hutchison, a gay pastor forced to resign from serving his United Methodist church. Because I officiated at two same gender weddings, I would lose my ministerial credentials and never be able to pastor in the United Methodist Church.

I love the United Methodist Church and have been faithfully serving the church as a pastor for 35 years. I’ve appreciated the theological diversity in our “Big Tent”. Unfortunately, the CUP legislation authored by Dr. Arnold’s would lead our church away from this. Instead, it would lead to four more years of a more intensified civil war. As I often say, “Lord, help us.”

Atticus Finch and Nikki Haley

          The death of Harper Lee and the South Carolina primary point us to a singular message: It’s time for our bishops and church leaders to speak out for LGBTQ persons. Silence will lead to continued discrimination.

          Harper Lee portrays Atticus Finch in two different ways in her books. The Atticus Finch in the newly published, “Go Set a Watchman” is silent and complicit in the face of the increasing racism around him. The Atticus Finch of “To Kill a Mockingbird” boldly stands up against racism telling Scout, “Before I can live with other folks, I have to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” Which Atticus Finch will our church leaders choose to emulate as we approach General Conference?

          The news of the South Carolina primary last weekend featured the governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley. Last summer Gov. Haley demonstrated the effect that a bold stand can make for legislative change. Following the Charleston murders, she broke her silence regarding the Confederate flag. She took the political risk and moral high road by boldly calling for the Confederate flag to be taken down. Just like our bishops, she had no authority to take action. But her voice encouraged the legislature to quickly vote to remove the Confederate flag from the State House.

          I recognize the difficult dilemma that Bishops find themselves in these days. They are committed to their covenant with each other and their covenant to their denomination. Many are working behind the scenes and out of the public eye to help LGBTQ persons. I understand and appreciate all of that… But

As we approach General Conference, the public silence of our bishops and church leaders will lead directly to the General Conference choosing to make no change in our Book of Discipline this year. That will mean a continuation of the 44 year war against gays. That will mean the continuation of discrimination in the official policy of our church.

          Sixteen years ago, 15 bishops decided to make a bold stand for LGBTQ persons. Isn’t it time for another bold stand – in the spirit of Atticus Finch and Nikki Haley?  …in the Spirit of God?  

Silence Equals Discrimination

          The sign said: Silence equals Death. It was from thirty years ago when our nation’s leaders didn’t want to get involved in addressing the challenges of AIDS. Their silence led to lack of information and funding, which resulted in death to many.

          Today in our denomination, silence equals discrimination. Most of our Bishops and church leaders are silent in responding to our church’s position on homosexuality and the LGBTQ community. I believe their silence will result in continued discriminatory policies in our Book of Discipline. Their absence of leadership around these critical issues will lead to 2016 General Conference decisions that will continue to harm LGBTQ persons.

          I had the privilege of talking about this with Bishop Jung a week ago. He and his wife were so gracious to invite me out for dinner. I was staying that night in front of the Wisconsin Conference Office on the sixtieth day of my Tent Witness. He shared me with the challenge of holding in tension the covenant he has with the other Bishops in upholding the Book of Discipline and God’s covenant with him. Bishop Jung helped me see the dilemma that Bishops and church leaders face these days.

          Jesus faced a similar dilemma with the religious leaders of his day. They wanted him to be silent in the face of the discrimination and oppression of outsiders like Samaritans, lepers, tax collectors, and other outcasts. Jesus indicated his covenant with God had priority over whatever covenant he might have with the Jewish leaders. Jesus was not silent in his promotion of justice for the outsider.

          A few weeks ago at a RMN event in Illinois, Bishop Carcano told the story about the 15 bishops who boldly took a stand at the 2000 General Conference for LGBTQ persons. She told about the consequences she personally experienced for supporting those Bishops.

It’s time for another bold stand by our Bishops and church leaders. It’s time to end the silence. It’s time to speak out for an end to the discrimination.

My daughter is lying by the side of the road. Sarah has been beaten up by a church that won’t bless her marriage and won’t let her serve in ministry. It’s time for Bishops and church leaders to go to her side, instead of walking by on the other side.

It’s time for those of us in the pews and pulpits to tell our leaders: silence equals discrimination. They will listen when we send our e-mails and Facebook messages and letters to their offices. They will listen when we tell them: It’s time to speak up. Our church and General Conference will listen when we unite together and say out loud: No more discrimination.  

Another Free Pass

Another Free Pass By Rev. Mike Tupper

          I’m getting another free pass from my Bishop. Is this a good thing or not? Should I celebrate this or not?

          I received my first free pass a year ago. I signed the marriage license at the same sex wedding of my daughter in August, 2014. A complaint was filed. The conclusion of the supervisory response process was a just resolution. This resolution encouraged me to continue my advocacy work instead of resulting in any negative consequences for me.

          I signed another marriage license for a same sex couple in July, 2015. This was the wedding of Rev. Hutchison who had been forced to resign his pastorate at Cassopolis UMC four days earlier. Once again a complaint was filed against me. This time I chose not to take another free pass during the Supervisory Response process. The Bishop passed the complaint on to a counsel for the church. Three months have now elapsed. The Book of Discipline and Judicial Council are clear that that counsel for the church is to collect evidence and give it to the Committee on Investigation for them to decide whether to send the case to trial. In my case, the counsel for the church has the evidence (copy of signed marriage license) and is not passing it on to the Committee on Investigation.

          Therefore, I’ve received another free pass from my Bishop. Is this a good thing or not?

          Many people will say this is a good thing. It’s a way for progressive bishops to handle the parts of the BOD they don’t agree with. It allows our pastors to officiate at weddings for all people without worrying about any negative consequences. As a result, hundreds of same sex weddings have been officiated at by United Methodist pastors. We can celebrate this as a step forward for our church and God’s kingdom of justice for all.

          Others will argue that free passes are not a good thing, especially as we approach General Conference. The free passes hide the size of the ecclesial disobedient (biblically obedient) movement in our church. It silences those who are trying to publicly witness to the injustice of the present laws in our BOD. Free passes encourage the delegates at General Conference to continue with the status quo and not make any changes to the BOD this year.

          I truly appreciate the gift of another free pass from my Bishop. But I’m torn about whether I should celebrate this as a good thing.

          I believe I would rather take the consequences of my action. I want to stand in solidarity with Rev. Meyer and Rev. Hutchison who do not receive free passes. I want to stand in solidarity with my daughter.

          My continued prayer is the Lord would help our church find a way to end our 44 year war and open our doors to all people.

          

Brief signed and notarized letter for Bishop Kiesey

September 28, 2015

            I, Mike Tupper, acknowledge that I signed the marriage license on July 17, 2015 for Monty and Ben Hutchison in Cassopolis, Michigan. I acknowledge that I am guilty of violating one of the chargeable offenses in the Book of Discipline (Par. 2702.1b)

            I, Mike Tupper, agree to forfeit the use of an attorney during every phase of the potential investigation and trial.

            I, Mike Tupper, waive my right to an appeal following the verdict and penalty in a potential trial.

            Signed,

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

            Mike Tupper

Mike Tupper's Letter to Bishop on 9/28/15

September 28, 2015

Dear Bishop,

                Thanks for the frank discussions we’ve had during the Supervisory Response process following the complaint filed on July 17th. I regret to inform you that we will not be able to agree on a just resolution this time.

                I’ve struggled over the word “just” in just resolution. I don’t believe God wants me to get “off the hook” again so easily with a just resolution, knowing that justice in our church is not yet available for my gay daughter Sarah and my friends Rev. Hutchison and Ginny Mikita. I know others find the just resolution to be a helpful step forward. Last year, I signed a just resolution following Sarah and Ali’s wedding. But this time, God is leading me differently.

                The Lord has led me to this decision because He’s called me to shine a light on the harm done by our church to LGBTQ people like my daughter. God’s called me to highlight the need for a change in our Discipline at General Conference. But God has also made it clear to me that I should be willing to pay the price for my disobedience to the present Book of Discipline. I’m reminded of this in paragraph 164 F in the Discipline.

                I acknowledge publicly that I am guilty of violating one of the chargeable offenses in paragraph 2702.1b. (“performing same sex wedding ceremonies”) Consequently, you will probably be referring this complaint on to Counsel for the Church. Eventually, this might lead to a church trial.

                I lament the costs involved in a church trial. Therefore I invite Church Counsel and yourself to consider the following proposal to minimize the financial costs of a church trial: Do the investigation and trial with minimal costs and no lawyers. There is nothing in the Discipline which requires the participation of lawyers. There is nothing in the Discipline which requires exorbitant expenses for an investigation or trial. This makes sense because I’m pleading “guilty” to the offense. I will not contest the guilty verdict or the penalty decided on by a jury of my peers.

                I am thankful that I’m not alone in what I’ve had the privilege to do on two occasions. I’m a part of growing movement of United Methodist pastors who are being biblically obedient by performing weddings for all people. I love the United Methodist Church and am committed to fulfilling my responsibility as a pastor to be in ministry with all people.

                May God help us all do our part to welcome in His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

                In Christ’s ministry of love and justice for all,

                Mike Tupper

P.S. I will be sending a signed, notarized letter in the mail today related to this matter.

Help Wanted: 8 Martyrs

               

          A friend recently said, "Ten pastors will have to be defrocked before the UMC changes its stance toward gays."    

         Two years ago Frank Schaefer became our first martyr in most recent UMC history. His ministerial credentials were removed following a church trial. (They were later reinstated.) Frank’s story and martyrdom brought light to the harm done to the LGBTQ community by the UMC. It also created tension and pain for our denomination. This brought us closer to making the change to full inclusion.

                I had the opportunity to officiate at my daughter’s same gender wedding last August. A complaint and just resolution followed. Last month I had the privilege of officiating at Rev. Hutchison’s same gender wedding following his forced resignation from the Cassopolis, Michigan UMC. A complaint was filed against me. I’m willing to go to trial and lose my credentials.

                God is looking for 8 more martyrs.

                How can you be a martyr for God’s kingdom of justice and inclusion for all people?

1.       Officiate at a same gender wedding.

2.       Have someone file a complaint. This can refer to any same gender wedding you’ve officiated in the past six years. Some suggestions for people to file the complaint: Your District Superintendent, a Good News evangelical, or even an ally.

3.         Don’t settle for a just resolution when you meet with the Bishop.

4.          Let your case go to trial.

5.          Encourage media (social and traditional and denominational) coverage of every step of your process.

The goal of this martyrdom is to bring light to the harm done to the LGBTQ community by the United Methodist Church. It is also to bring tension and pain to our denomination which is at a tipping point. Hopefully, we will have 8 more martyrs by the 2016 General Conference so that God’s desired changes are voted up.

Martin Luther King Junior said from the Birmingham jail: “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has consistently refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue.”

He also said, “I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.”

God is looking for 8 more martyrs. Will you be one of them?

Mike Tupper, pastor of Parchment, MI UMC, michaeljamestupper@yahoo.com