Lesbian pastor forced to resign by United Methodist Church after she comes out

After Sept. 1 Rev. Cynthia Meyer will no longer be a pastor and cannot be hired by any United Methodist church, all because she came out to her congregation.

The United Methodist Church bars homosexuals from serving as pastors in their church, forcing many LGBT pastors to lie to their congregations. But in January, Meyer thought that the church was reconsidering their position and came out to her church's members.

After the confession, Meyer had two options, either resign or go on trial by the United Methodist Church. She opted to resign and save herself from the "harm and trauma" of a trial by the church.

“I've signed away my right to live out my calling — to be most fully who God has called me to be — I hope only for a time," she told the Kansas City Star. “My heart is broken, yet I trust that God will work through even this for good.”

“She is the same person who walked through the door the first day,” said Rita Jones, president of the United Methodist Women in Edgerton. “A congregation never agrees a hundred percent on anything, but a big majority here supported her and wanted her to stay.

Jones continued that Meyer is an excellent pastor and “we are sorry to see her leave and wish her the best.”

In January, Meyer said that she came out because she thinks it is important that we are open and honest with each other. "As a leader, it's important for me to model that to my congregation."

"The Book of Discipline" governs the policies and procedures for the United Methodist Church. It outlines "persons set apart by the Church for ordained ministry are subject to all the frailties of the human condition and the pressures of society," and as such "they are required to maintain the highest standards of holy living in the world. The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church."

The United Church of Christ adopted the official designation as "Open and Affirming" in 1985. The United Methodist Church has not adopted anything similar, but attempts to have it both ways by claiming that "all persons are of sacred worth."

Meyer's final sermon will be Aug. 28.

Here's a video with Meyer talking about coming out to her congregation in January via the Kansas City Star: