Man Who Led Women’s Church Group Is Ousted

Women have shattered a few glass ceilings in recent years--in civic life and in religious circles. But the breakthroughs don’t necessarily work in reverse.

A male pastor in Laguna Hills was recently ruled out of gender after serving a few months as president of his congregation’s United Methodist Women--albeit as a measure to keep the group active in his church. Men simply cannot serve as the head of a women’s group, church officials in Pasadena said.

The Rev. James R. Dallas was elected late last year as president after 15 women turned down the United Methodist Women nominating committee at Laguna Hills United Methodist Church. Most of them were older members reluctant to continue in leadership roles, he said.

“I bailed them out, and in fact we had a turnout of 127 instead of an expected 60 women at our first meeting,” Dallas said. “A trio of women advise me, but I have presided and I would say we’ve had good success.”

But regional Methodist executives in Pasadena said the lay group’s bylaws prohibit the egalitarian move--not only because Dallas is a man but also because he’s a pastor.

It’s “not possible,” said Dorothy Bohannon, regional mission coordinator for membership who was quoted in Circuit West, the Methodists’ newspaper for Southern California.

“While we welcome the efforts of our clergy to be supportive of the United Methodist Women . . . we want . . . our purpose to be clear to all who may want to participate.”

“I’m willing to do what they suggested--be called a ‘designated contact person,’ ” Dallas said.