Palma Ceia United Methodist Church

Letter to Bishop Kiesey of the Michigan Area

July 20, 2015July 20, 2015 B. John 667 Views 1 Comment Bruce Toms, Cassopolis United Methodist Church, Deborah Lieder Kiesey, Ken Carter, Michigan Area Annual Conference, Palma Ceia United Methodist Church, Rev. Benjamin Hutchison

Recently, a small church in Michigan, Cassopolis United Methodist, had their church Pastor, Rev. Benjamin Hutchison, taken away from them. Was it because of poor attendance, hardly, he had quadrupled the membership since being appointed. He saved the church from dying according to many members. His crime, he was in a long-term committed relationship with another man. Just after that, nearly 30 United Methodist pastors joined in a celebrating a wedding ceremony for Rev. Hutchison and his husband, and now, to further hammer home her distaste for love, Bishop Deborah Lieder Kiesey has picked out nine of them for prosecution under church law. Here’s my letter to Bishop Kiesey:

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Response to Bishop Carter’s Ruling

February 5, 2014October 20, 2015 B. John 669 Views 0 Comments bigotry, Bishop Ken Carter, Bruce Toms, Florida Annual Conference, homophobia, Palma Ceia United Methodist Church

Last year, I was forced to file a complaint with the Bishop about hateful and dishonest actions by Bruce Toms, the newly appointed Pastor at Palma Ceia United Methodist Church. At the time, I was told by several Methodist Ministers to not have high expectations. That came true, and here is my response to the Bishop’s findings.

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Admin Council Member Says Stating We Treat Everyone Equally Might Be Divisive

February 18, 2011September 29, 2018 230 Views 0 Comments Bill Josey, justice, Kevin James, Non-discrimination, Palma Ceia United Methodist Church

I returned once again to the Administrative Council at my church to ask them to pass a resolution adopting a non-discrimination statement. The last time I went in 2008, one of the members, Bill Josey, an attorney, objected because I had included a statement that we would, when reasonable, try to do business only with other organizations that had a similar statement. That was his only objection. I took it out, completely, but guess what, at January’s meeting he had a different objection.

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Upcoming Administrative Council Meeting at Church

August 7, 2008August 10, 2015 182 Views 0 Comments methodism, methodist, Palma Ceia, Palma Ceia United Methodist Church, Resolution, Social Justice

I have previously published a resolution I intend to introduce at the next Administrative Council meeting at my church here in Tampa (Palma Ceia United Methodist). I was going to introduce it in June, but the meeting was canceled. It’s now been rescheduled for August 18, so I should be able to attend.

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A Resolution on Social Justice for My Methodist Church

June 24, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 287 Views 1 Comment Homosexuality, Non-discrimination, Palma Ceia United Methodist Church, Race, Racism, Sexual Orientation, Social Justice, Tampa

I have prepared a resolution on social justice to be introduced at the next meeting of the Administrative Board of Palma Ceia United Methodist Church here in Tampa. It will create an inclusive statement of non-discrimination. However, it goes a bit further. In an on-line conversation I had with a new acquaintance, he made a statement that caught my interest. He said, “People don’t have to pay a price for discrimination against gay people.” I believe this is a true statement. You can’t really change how people feel, but you can change how they behave in public through laws and through action. People who make racists statements pay a price. If they are business owner, they may be boycotted by people who don’t beleive in racism. At work, they may be ostricized, and it can affect their potential opportunities. But for the most part, people don’t pay a price for discriminating against homosexuals. My resolution requires the church to put its money where its mouth is.