Gay pastor fights censure by United Methodist Church

The Rev. Alex da Silva Souto, pastor of the New Milford United Methodist Church, told his congregation last May he is gay. The Rev. Alex da Silva Souto, pastor of the New Milford United Methodist Church, told his congregation last May he is gay. Photo: Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Gay pastor fights censure by United Methodist Church 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

NEW MILFORD — After a busy Easter, the Rev. Alex da Silva Souto fears for his job.

Next week, the highest court of the United Methodist Church will decide whether people like him — “queer men” — can continue as members of the clergy.

In the worst-case scenario, da Silva Souto said, he could have his license to preach his faith revoked.

“We don’t know what's going to come down,” he said.

Da Silva Souto’s congregation, regional United Methodist officials and clergy members of other denominations are behind him, but it’s up to a Judicial Council of nine church officials, who will meet in Newark, N.J., from April 25 to 28, to say whether gays can be commissioned, ordained, licensed or consecrated in the church.

“Coming out of Easter and into the Easter season — a season of resurrection and hope and light — I’m feeling hopeful,” da Silva Souto said. “I’m standing in the light and I have some 150 colleagues standing in the light with me.”

Da Silva Souto joined 146 other “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Questioning and Intersex” pastors in an open letter asking the Judicial Council to allow homosexual clergy.

The council’s docket for next weeks meeting shows seven cases, three concerning gays in the pastorate. One will decide whether Bishop Karen Oliveto, a lesbian woman, can keep her job.

“We, your LGBTQI clergy, write to you before their session begins to respond in love to this harm,” the Easter letter says.

“We, as the community of queer clergy ... stand together: we are all one body and one church. Together we affirm and are proud of our denomination's core beliefs and mission. ... (But) questions, briefs and complaints ... are hurtful to us, and they are hurtful to the whole church.”

The United Methodist church, as a worldwide organization, has debated its position on homosexuality since 1972.

Although homosexuality has been accepted in other faiths, and gay marriage is now legal, the church hasn’t become more homosexual-friendly, da Silva Souto said.

In fact, it has become more conservative.

According to the church’s The Book of Discipline, homosexuals cannot be ministers, gay marriages cannot be officiated by United Methodist clergy and church money cannot be spent “to promote the acceptance of homosexuality.”

Da Silva Souto said he hopes the Council defers a decision until a church commission studying homosexuals in the clergy releases their report.

In the meantime, he worries that he could be put on a church trial for being gay. In January, a brief that “calls for the suspension or discontinuation of my right to practice,” was filed against him, he said,

“I’m counting on the support of my congregation and my annual conference,” he said.

blytton@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3411; @bglytton