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2011-07-01 issue:

Official account of Spaulding dismissal

Communiqué: Official communication from Mennonite Church USA Executive Board

by Ervin Stutzman, Mennonite Church USA executive director

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There are rumors and varying accounts of Randall Spaulding’s dismissal from the Binational Worship Council. This is a brief but official Mennonite Church USA account of our understanding of what happened. When the Binational council was formed, it seemed natural for Mennonite Publishing Network (MPN) to appoint Randall to the committee, since he had participated in a number of other such tasks, including the editing of two hymnal supplements. So, at the time the Binational Worship Council was formed in April 2008, they took counsel with denominational leaders, at which time Randall was appointed as one of the representatives of Mennonite Church USA.

MPN knew that Randall had divorced his wife of 19 years before coming out as gay, so MPN made the appointment with an understanding from denominational leaders that Randall could serve as long as he was not in an active gay relationship. (Not everyone involved remembers the agreement in the same way; Randall and council members thought the only limit was that he not serve as chair of the committee).

Later, when Randall told the Southeast Mennonite Conference he was pursuing a same-sex relationship, they revoked his ministerial credentials. After joining in a marriage covenant with another man in June 2010, Randall raised the question of his ongoing participation on the Council in October 2010. In January, MPN sought counsel from denominational staff, who conferred with Southeast Mennonite Conference and with the denominational moderators. All agreed that although Randall was serving well from the viewpoint of the committee, it seemed best for him not to continue in such a visible role after his pastoral credentials had been suspended; substantial groups in the church could not support his ministry. It was also deemed to be consistent with the membership guidelines adopted at Nashville. This was communicated to Randall in a phone conversation with good mutual exchange. In the end, Randall indicated that he would not step down voluntarily; he would need to be asked to quit. After further counsel, it was deemed best to honor the conference’s decision and discontinue his appointment through Mennonite Church USA.

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  • Posted by RandallSpaulding at Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 06:50 PM

    Randall Spaulding responds:
    I appreciate that Ervin Stutzman notes that the official published account is his understanding of what led him to expel me from the bi-national worship council, without saying it is the only account. A few observations and points of clarification:

    When I attended the Bi-national Worship Council meeting in October of 2010, I wondered aloud briefly how my position as an openly gay pastor might affect the work of the council. It was a two-minute conversation in which no one at the gathering objected to my service on the council or in the denomination. A MCUSA representative at the meeting reported being informed by a denominational leader(s) that I could continue to serve as long as I wasn’t in a leadership role. I reiterated my desire to remain on the council, was glad to hear that I was welcome, and we moved on to the work of the council. It is very difficult for me to imagine that anyone would forget to tell me that “as long as he was not in an active gay relationship” was also part of the rules.

    My wondering out loud was prompted by my desire to have everything on the table. I didn’t want to become engaged and deeply committed to the work of the council only to later have my role or integrity questioned or to be expelled. Since I was not part or aware of the conversations that supposedly went on before/when/after (?) I was appointed, I was not expecting anything other than the council members’ honest thoughts. For me, being gay (or black, female, interracially married, etc. in previous generations) has nothing to do with my ability to serve the Church with my gifts of music, worship and pastoral ministry. And it has nothing to do with being accepted and loved by God. Obviously for other substantial groups within the denomination it has everything to do with it.

    I know that “substantial groups in the church” have wielded powerful influence in the decision to expel me. I'm well aware that there is a lot in the previous sentence and in the official statement that lies just under the surface, unspoken but still speaking volumes.

    It has been frustrating being told I was welcome to serve and then being told, sorry, you’re not welcome after all. Stutzman completely leaves out the fact that I was not part of the dialogue or process that led to my dismissal until one day before my expulsion.

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