For the past 124 nights, Rev. Michael Tupper, a Methodist minister, has been on a mission from God. He’s been sleeping in a tent to protest his church’s policy against same-sex marriages.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Rev. Tupper says that the Methodist church has left gay Christians “out in the cold.” He hopes that his protest can push through church reforms that offer greater inclusion to all congregation members.
The Methodist church, who like to espouse their “big tent” policy, has in the past defrocked ministers and clergymen who come out as gay.
The Methodist General Conference, where the church first broached the subject of homosexuality in 1972, meets every four years to revise church policy. It’s set to convene for its 2016 session in the Oregon Convention Center from May 10-20. The Conference will hear legislation that, if passed, would reverse the church’s 44-year-old censure on same-sex marriage. According to the Conference website:
“The proposal would allow United Methodist clergy to perform ceremonies that celebrate same-sex unions if they wish, but no clergyperson would be required to do so. The proposal would also remove being a practicing homosexual or performing same-sex wedding ceremonies from the list of chargeable offenses for clergy. In addition, the proposal removes language saying that the church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers it incompatible with Christian teaching, while recognizing this has historically been the church’s position.”
As for Rev. Tupper, he hopes his display of disobedience can shift the church’s internal political tides in favor of a policy adjustment.
Rev. Tupper’s Track Record Of Advocacy
This isn’t the first time Rev. Tupper has flown in the face of the church establishment. Two years ago, he officiated his daughter’s marriage to another woman. He knew he risked being defrocked. A colleague, Rev. Frank Schaefer, was asked to “surrender his clergy credentials” after officiating the marriage of his gay son, though he later won back his privileges in an appeal to the church’s judiciary.
Rev. Tupper also officiated the marriage of Rev. Benjamin and Monty Hutchinson. Rev. Benjamin Hutchinson was “forced to resign as pastor of a United Methodist congregation” after his long-term relationship with Monty Hutchinson was revealed. As for Rev. Tupper, he plead guilty to the charge leveled against him, though the complaint was eventually settled with the church judiciary.
Rev. Tupper intends to sleep in his tent for 175 days. He’s got a few weeks left. Hopefully, by the time May rolls around, his advocacy will help reforms pass the Conference. Regardless, Rev. Tupper will remain a voice of acceptance and compassion in the Methodist community.
Featured image courtesy of Bit Boy/Flickr under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.
