x
Breaking News
More () »

St. Petersburg Methodist pastor at odds with church over issue of same-sex marriage

Following a complaint filed by a Tampa Methodist minister, the two sides met with the bishop of the denomination's Florida Conference to work toward a resolution.

A St. Petersburg Methodist pastor is in a fight for his church because of his stance on same-sex marriage.

Rev. Andy Oliver at Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg has made no bones about his support of gay marriage and his willingness to officiate same-sex weddings in his church.

The marquee outside the church has made headlines for its poignantly progressive political statements and has often been the target of vandals as a result.

RELATED: St. Pete church marquee vandalized with 'gay pastor' message; church responds

His church’s website reads: “We affirm the sacred worth of all people and strive to practice Christ's example of unconditional love without exclusion… We are building a new Allendale: a place without barriers, a sanctuary for all.”

But following a recent wedding Oliver officiated between two women, a Methodist minister in Tampa filed a formal complaint with the bishop in Lakeland.

The complaint comes just months after the international United Methodist Church Conference ruled against same-sex marriage. The conference voted against a proposal that would’ve let individual churches make their own policy on this matter.

A meeting between both sides Wednesday afternoon in Lakeland at Bishop Ken Carter’s office—under a process in the church known as a “Just Resolution”—ended without a resolution and an agreement to meet again.

RELATED: UMC church in St. Pete won't accept newly voted plan banning LGBTQ ministry

RELATED: United Methodists face vote, potential church split on same-sex marriage, gay clergy

The process laid out by the church encourages people who have a dispute to first seek a private solution one-on-one with a mediator. A complaint could ultimately be brought up in a church trial as a last resort.

A statement issued by Bishop Ken Carter following the meeting reads:

“We had an honest conversation acknowledging our differences. The two pastors agreed to publicly pray for each other in their churches. They agreed to read scripture together and to continued conversation. We concluded by sharing holy communion. Bishop Carter will continue to share information explaining the Just Resolution process as needed and the work toward a Just Resolution continues.”

Both sides declined to comment following Wednesday’s meeting. Church policy encourages complaints to be resolved in private.

“I had hoped this would be resolved without going public only because of the trauma LGBTQ people tell me they face every time something like this happens,” Oliver previously said in a post on the church’s Facebook page. “They are the real victims, not me.” 

A spokesperson for Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church in Tampa previously issued a statement saying, “this is a confidential matter within the United Methodist Bishop’s office.”

A later meeting date between both sides has not been announced.

What other people are reading right now:

Have a news tip? Email desk@wtsp.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.

Before You Leave, Check This Out