Gay pastor forced to resign from Michigan church to speak Friday

ALAMEDA (BCN) — A gay church pastor forced to resign or be fired from a Methodist church in Michigan will speak Friday evening at a church in Alameda, according to church leaders.

The talk with the Rev. Benjamin Hutchison will take place at 6 p.m. at Twin Towers United Methodist Church at 1411 Oak St. in Alameda.

Hutchison resigned after the bishop of the Michigan Area of The United Methodist Church asked him whether he had a gay partner, ministry team leaders with the Alameda church said.

Hutchison admitted to the bishop he had a gay partner and was told he was unfit to lead, ministry leaders said.

According to the Basics of Our Faith on the denomination’s website, “The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.”

Officials with Twin Towers United Methodist Church ministry team, which is part of the Reconciling Ministries Network working to end the pain of exclusion in the church, said Hutchison was pastor of Cassopolis United Methodist Church in Cassopolis, Michigan, before he resigned.

Cassopolis United Methodist Church was on the verge of closing when Hutchison assumed his post as pastor. That’s when church attendance rose fourfold, church finances stabilized and Hutchison became part of the Cassopolis community, ministry team leaders said.

“It wasn’t only my place of employment; it was the love of my life,” Hutchison said in a statement.

A call to the Cassopolis United Methodist Church was not immediately returned today.

The Michigan Area of the United Methodist Church declined to provide details about Hutchison’s removal, saying in a statement that because “the appointment of pastors are by practice and policy confidential, the conference is unable to share any details surrounding his departure.”

On Friday, the Twin Towers ministry team in Alameda will be selling wristbands, water and carnations each for a $1 to help Hutchison and his partner, team leaders said.

Hutchison and his partner were married July 17 at the Cass County Courthouse, four days after Hutchison’s meeting with Michigan church leaders where he was told to resign or be fired, ministry team leaders said.

United Methodist Church officials said a general conference of the church will meet in May 2016 in Portland, Oregon, and will include discussions on the church’s official position on many issues.