Same-sex marriage comes to Dupont Methodists (Photo: Associated Press)

On Sunday, Foundry United Methodist Church voted to allow same-sex marriages within the Dupont-based congregation. The next day, John R. Schol, Bishop of the United Methodist Church's Baltimore-Washington Conference, announced his intentions to pursue action against any member of the Foundry clergy who performs them.

At a Sunday conference, Foundry members voted overwhelmingly—367 votes to 8—to change the church's policy on same-sex marriages. On Monday, Schol sent a letter to the 700 churches within Foundry's conference cautiously denouncing the decision. "As a bishop of the church I am responsible for upholding our Book of Discipline and will process and follow through with any complaint or charge against a United Methodist clergyperson of the Baltimore-Washington Conference who performs a same gender wedding or holy union," Schol wrote.

Schol's intention to "follow through" on the charges followed a reasoned letter in which he weighed the United Methodist Church's long history of division on the gay marriage issue. "Performing same-gender marriages has become increasingly discussed by congregations in Washington, D.C. since the passage of the Marriage Equality Act in March of 2010," Schol wrote in his letter. "We in The United Methodist Church are divided over the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the church. Since 1972, every General Conference has debated full inclusion. . . . I recognize that good people of faith will disagree about the church's position on matters of faith, theology, ecclesiology, culture, and polity. I grieve when our differences divide us and set group against group and people against people. I mourn that sometimes differences are turned into anger and even hatred."

But Schol ultimately sided with the Book of Discipline, which lays down the law and doctrine governing the United Methodist Church, and is reviewed every four years by the church's General Conference. "The Discipline is clear that we do not condone the practice of homosexuality . . . and it is a chargeable offense for a clergyperson to conduct a holy union or marriage for gays and lesbians," Schol wrote. "We also 'implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.'"

Following Bishop Schol's letter, Foundry United Methodist Church's Congregational Council released a statement voicing "deep appreciation for the tone and objectivity" of Schol's letter. "We are grateful that Bishop Schol recognized the central role of church laity in the drafting and consideration of this policy," the statement reads. "As part of the Baltimore-Washington conference, we are always thankful for the pastoral care Bishop Schol provides to our congregation."

At last Sunday's service, Senior Minister Dean Snyder "urged the congregation" to "keep our relationship with God focused on the work of our church's ministry," the statement added. Snyder told the congregation that "nothing is going to happen that we can't handle." Snyder could not be immediately reached for comment.