Nowhere in his letter did the bishop attack the couple married by the Rev. Jimmy Creech (A denominational trial March 13 acquitted Creech, of Omaha, Neb., of the charge that he violated church law by performing a ceremony to bless a lesbian union.) As a private individual, Creech had every right to give his blessing to a same-sex marriage. As a Methodist minister, he had no such right.

This stance by the Methodist Church --- "ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by a United Methodist minister and shall not be conducted in our churches" --- is not unfair to gays. Just because same-sex relationships are considered de rigueur does not mean they should receive the same treatment by the Methodist Church. Jesus said, "Go forth and sin no more."