Gay Methodists Assail Discontinuance of Ad

A gay caucus in the United Methodist Church claims a weekly denominational newspaper “capitulated” to reader opposition when it discontinued a classified ad, but the editor says that wasn’t the case.

Spurgeon M. Dunnam III of the United Methodist Reporter says he had not capitulated to anyone in halting the ad’s appearance, but simply had “made a mistake” in allowing it in the first place.

The paid, nine-word ad, which had been running for more than a year, said “Gay and Lesbian United Methodists--it’s time for Affirmation” and gave a post office address in Evanston, Ill.

Dunham said that he had decided that the original acceptance of the ad had not conformed to the paper’s policy of refusing ads “at odds” with the church’s social principles.

The principles state that “homosexual persons no less than heterosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth” but “we do not condone the practice of homosexuality,” considering it “incompatible with Christian teaching.”