Dear Board of General Superintendents (David Busic, Gustavo Crocker, Fili Chambo, Carla Sunberg, Scott Daniels, and Christian Sarmiento),
I stand with Dee Kelley.
I’m shocked you allowed charges to be filed against this exemplary pastor. I’m stunned his credentials were stripped. I’m angry he was denied an appeal to that decision.
I stand with Dee Kelley.
Your silence is telling but it shouldn’t surprise me. You set the stage for it to happen. Two years ago I faced the same charges as Dee. But at my trial, three people recognized I had not taught doctrine out of harmony with the church. Why? Because our doctrine consisted of the Articles of Faith. As you know, there is NOTHING in those articles about the LGBTQ+ community. This is 100% the reason the trial failed to strip me of my credentials and I’m still an ordained elder.
So what did you, the Board of General Superintendents, do? You redefined “doctrine” as the Articles of Faith + the Code of Christian Conduct + the Code of Christian Character. These other documents contain a reference to marriage as being between a man and a woman. But those two documents were never viewed as “doctrine.” With that change, charges of “teaching doctrine contrary to our doctrine” have more teeth.
By including these two documents in the definition of doctrine you created ammunition to win trials like mine and force elders out.
So now, it’s open season on pastors who believe God’s affirming love extends to everyone. Rev. Dr. Dee Kelley is your latest victim. You and I know there are other pastors being threatened with a trial for affirming members of the LGBTQ+ community.
I stand with Dee Kelley.
This is a dark day in our denomination. And it not only happened on your watch, it happened because of you.
If you feel no shame, I’m ashamed for you. If you shed no tears, I weep for you. If your heart doesn’t ache over what you’ve done, mine aches for you.
I urge you to make this right. Lead us in the right direction. Set the example for true holiness.
I stand with Dee Kelley.
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. Randall Hartman
