Karl Shelly, pastor at Assembly Mennonite Church, Goshen, Ind., performed a same-sex covenant ceremony in May. Both individuals in the couple are members at Assembly, confirmed Shelly on Aug. 21 …
Shelly’s credentials are now up for review by conference leadership.
The CDC review has not started yet, and he “does not know the timetable” of the IMMC review, he wrote in an Aug. 21 email.
Shelly wrote he has not been approached by other same-sex couples to perform additional ceremonies.
Shelly submitted a statement on July 25 defending this choice to perform the ceremony to IMMC.
In the statement he writes, “I am not asking you to endorse my and my congregation’s blessing of LGBTQ people; just as you don’t endorse other common variant positions practiced by IMMC pastors and congregations. But I am asking you to allow space—legitimate space—for congregations that offer such a blessing.
“I say that out of my sincere love for the church and my hope for its future. I believe the future of the church will be irreparably harmed by a continued punitive response to those whose conscience leads them to be LGBTQ inclusive.”
To read Shelly’s entire statement, click here.
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