http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/7/72005a.asp
Last month, Bishop Charlene Kammerer of the United Methodist Church (UMC) Virginia Annual Conference intervened in a case where a man was denied membership in a Methodist Church. Bishop Kammererey declared that Pastor Edward Johnson of South Hill Methodist Church was obligated to accept the man who is homosexual, as a member, despite evidence that he is proud and unrepentant of his sinful lifestyle, and seemingly wants to make himself a test case against the church's teachings. After Johnson declined, Kammerer placed him on an involuntary leave of absence until he complies with her request.
"Most obviously she was compromising the ability of local clergy to make their own decisions as to whether or not someone is prepared to join the church and United Methodist teachings do say that when you join the church, you are expected to uphold the beliefs of the church and to show repentance in your life." -Mark Tooley, director of the United Methodist Action Committee for the Institute on Religion and Democracy,