On January 16, 1999, "the Sacramento 68", 68 clergy of the United Methodist Church (UMC), presided at the Holy Union of a lesbian couple, Jeanne Barnett and Ellie Charlton, in Sacramento, California, USA, along with 70 additional clergy participating in absentia. As there were ministers from other denominations present as well, the list of officiants actually contains 170 names.
A complaint was filed against the UMC clergy members, a hearing was held in February 2000 and their case was dismissed. Many links pertaining to this process can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/2xswea
During the hearings, Dr. Mary Tolbert, professor of Biblical Studies at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, gave an Expert Testimony on Holy Unions for the UMC Clergy Committee on Investigation. This testimony offers an excellent and concise look at the New Testament evidence on homoeroticism, the New Testament analogies of disobedience to unjust religious rules and concludes with thoughts regarding the ethics of using the Bible in church debates of this nature. Since it isn't too long, it could well be worth the time it takes to read it.
http://tinyurl.com/2hmc4t
