c. 1998 Religion News Service

UNDATED _ An Omaha, Neb., United Methodist pastor will be tried in a church court on charges he violated denominational rules by performing a same-sex union last September between two lesbians.

A Nebraska Conference Committee on Investigation found the Rev. Jimmy Creech of the prestigious First United Methodist Church can be tried on violating the church’s Social Principles, a statement which serves as a guide to individual and church behavior and action.

The committee, a grand jury-like panel elected by the state conference, came to the conclusion Friday (Jan. 23) at a meeting at which Creech was allowed to attend only part of the time.

Bishop Joel Martinez, who earlier suspended Creech indefinitely from his duties at the 1,800-member church, said he will set a conference trial for Creech as soon as he gets the official documents from the investigative committee.

“It is my intention to expedite such preparation to bring this matter to a decision as early as possible,” Martinez said in a statement.

Creech was unavailable for comment. However, he told United Methodist News Service he learned of the committee’s decision Saturday (Jan. 24) from the group’s chairman, the Rev. David Lux of North Platte.

“I feel quite prepared for a trial,” Creech said. “It did not come as a surprise.”

Creech said he didn’t think the investigative committee did its homework in looking at whether there was enough power in the church’s Social Principles to find him culpable for what he did.

A key issue in any trial is likely to be whether the Social Principles have the force of church law. Church law is contained in the denomination’s Book of Discipline.

Creech said he will demand an open trial, to which all can attend.

Creech’s trial should be completed by the opening of the Nebraska annual conference meeting slated for June 2-5, according to the Rev. Richard D. Turner, executive director of ministries and Martinez’s assistant.

A spokesman for Creech’s church indicated his congregation is not as concerned about the couple’s commitment ceremony as is the annual conference.

Linda Story, the church’s director of communication, said the 140-year-old church “is divided in its opinions,”

If Creech is found guilty in the conference trial, he can appeal the verdict to the denomination’s Judicial Commission, the church’s highest court. There, according to Creech’s supporters, he plans to argue the denomination’s Social Principles are not enforceable.

By placing the church’s Statement of Social Principles on trial with himself, Creech hopes to argue the principles can no more be applied to him than to those who violate the bans on tobacco, alcohol, racism and endangering the environment _ all listed in the principles.

No one, according to Creech supporters, has ever been tried for violating the Social Principles.

The Social Principles, which can be amended at each quadrennial General Conference of the denomination, currently prohibit the ordination of practicing gays and lesbians and the performance of same-sex unions.

At the 1996 General Conference _ the denomination’s highest decision-making body _ delegates decreed that “ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.”

According to Story, if the Judicial Council gets an appeal, it will have to weigh the covenant of the lesbian couple with what power the Social Principles have in everyday church life. The principles, Story emphasized, apply to all members of the church, including the clergy.

DEA END BRIGGS