OPEN LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA (October, 2014)

The United Methodist Church’s official teaching is that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching while at the same time God’s grace is available to all. We have church laws in place forbidding clergy from performing same gender weddings and forbidding non-celibate LGBT clergy from being ordained. Nevertheless, there are many United Methodist clergy and laity who are not in agreement with our church’s current rules and teachings. Our denomination allows for open discussion of ideas, dissent, and has a process for creating change in our rules. Our denomination’s top legislative body (General Conference) is the only entity that can speak on behalf of the denomination, yet we know many faithful United Methodist Christians wish to see a church fully inclusive of the LGBT community. We respectfully and humbly argue that United Methodists are not of one mind in our understanding of human sexuality and homosexuality. Through our engagement with scripture, tradition, reason, and experience, we have come to affirm the rights and dignity of all persons regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

We celebrate the freedoms coming to the LGBT community in Oklahoma and we pledge our love, affirmation and equal treatment to all persons. We do so as we continue to pray and work for a fully inclusive United Methodist Church.

Signed….

Check out this great Article:

That Day When 100+ Oklahoma United Methodist Ministers Stood Up Publicly for Marriage Equality and Full Participation of LGBT Persons in the United Methodist Church  

Current Total = 494+

Please note that it might take up to 24hrs for your name to be added the list. We have attempted to make the invitation, to support this letter  inclusive, however we want to be clear how many clergy and laity are from the Oklahoma Annual Conference (OKUMC).

  1. Susan Panciera
  2. Joel Panciera
  3. Belynda Clanton
  4. Carol Tobler
  5. Marian Sexton
  6. Toby Jenkins
  7. Richard Neel
  8. Jackie Neel
  9. Ron Marsh
  10. Angela Sexton
  11. John Simmons
  12. Sid Clanton
  13. Diana Grigg
  14. Laura Bottoms
  15. Carol Tobler
  16. John W. Simmons
  17. Marian Sexton
  18. Dolores Hedger
  19. Tom Sutherlin
  20. Sean Crews
  21. Tony Clyde
  22. Matt Austin
  23. Kaitlin Austin
  24. Hannah Lampi
  25. Molly Kate Been
  26. Garrett Johnston
  27. Rebecka Bourn
  28. Lacy Kelly
  29. Venita MacGorman
  30. Dr. Mindy McGarrah Sharp
  31. Branson D. Ewing
  32. Cody C. Robinson
  33. Glenda Walker
  34. Kristin Terrell-Wilkes
  35. Gail Puckett
  36. Sandra Moore-Furneaux
  37. Jenny Wood
  38. Dale Wood
  39. Marlene Jones
  40. Kristia Oney
  41. Brenda Wheelock
  42. Mary Pearson
  43. Jarod Conrady
  44. Travis Ewton
  45. Christine O’zee
  46. Patrick Meirick
  47. Patti Macumber
  48. Loran Stringer
  49. Linda Ashton
  50. Sherry Eggleston
  51. Marcus Briggs-Cloud (M.T.S )
  52. Kevin Hochman
  53. Robin Woodley
  54. Carmen Stafford
  55. Kristi S. Simpson
  56. Don Merrill
  57. Kayla Osborne
  58. Beverly Bryant
  59. Kristin Blakeburn
  60. Elizabeth Gwinn
  61. Trey Witzel
  62. Nancy Koplowitz
  63. Emily Dimmitt
  64. Tina Russell
  65. Briana Tobey
  66. Allie Grantham
  67. David Gwinn
  68. Kelli McKay-Conrady
  69. Dianna Phillips
  70. Randy Wicklund
  71. Jerry Griffin
  72. Tom Sutherlin
  73. Lanna Kelly
  74. Carl Johnson
  75. Janet Henry Boone
  76. Hannah Frye
  77. Marilyn Nicely
  78. Bob Ross
  79. Lori Hibbard
  80. Michelle Place
  81. Jane Thomas
  82. Jake Mitchell
  83. Susan B. Brown
  84. Karen R Crane
  85. Christy Albright
  86. Kimberly Carpenter
  87. Dana Taylor Smith
  88. Joy L Anderson
  89. Martha Brooks
  90. Sharon Gray
  91. Ron Gray
  92. Jane Bond
  93. Julia Trotter
  94. William Kennard-Martin
  95. Jason Kennard-Martin
  96. Barbara K Morgan
  97. Kimberly Sheely
  98. Joe Antinoro
  99. Karrel Stevens
  100. Carl Friend

  1. Teresa Grunewald
  2. Becky Griffith Lindsey
  3. Harold Swink
  4. Monica Swink
  5. Ron Kistler
  6. Mary Ann Karns
  7. Kay Antinoro
  8. Laura Ross
  9. Ann Needham Bower
  10. Heather Davis
  11. Jessica Maynard
  12. Linda Alegria
  13. Cindy O’Connor
  14. Virgil Stout
  15. Mike Tobey
  16. Beth Wright
  17. Sharon Bycroft
  18. J.C. Morris
  19. Philip Boone
  20. Fran Barton
  21. John Lingo
  22. Royce Caldron
  23. Carol McGaughey
  24. Peggy Kaney
  25. Paula Coppock
  26. Jay Ward
  27. Michael McCool
  28. Kara Ammon
  29. David Miller
  30. Margaret White
  31. Bryan West
  32. Pat Ghormley
  33. Kathy Caldron
  34. Judi Olsen
  35. Mary K. Moelling
  36. Brady Henderson
  37. Dr. Carolyn S. Hawley
  38. Elizabeth Gwartney
  39. Vicki Cox
  40. Tava Edwards
  41. Elaine Gragg
  42. Sara Snodgrass
  43. Kristin Alex Davies
  44. Sharon Bookout
  45. Shari Goodwin
  46. Lynn Goodwin
  47. Jeff Burkhalter
  48. Rebecca Chandler
  49. V.Duane Moore
  50. Ryan Shepherd
  51. Susan Lucky
  52. Bob Boone
  53. Amy Oden
  54. James McCann
  55. Angelyn Dale
  56. Lindsey Miller
  57. Susan Wylie
  58. Myrna Ware
  59. Vicky Langston
  60. Greta Hurt
  61. Alyssa Lindsey
  62. Justin North
  63. Haywood Jablome
  64. Mary Lowe Marlin
  65. Karl Cocke
  66. Pat Sherwood
  67. Cindy Brown
  68. Vicky Chappell
  69. Amy Baker
  70. Frieda Hill
  71. Christi Luks
  72. Jennifer Douglas
  73. Kay Alexander
  74. Russell Jenkins
  75. Kimberley Porter
  76. Katherine (Katie) Goss
  77. Allison Brown
  78. Rosemary LeForce
  79. Don Taylor
  80. Lynnwood R. Moore, Jr.
  81. Deaconess Shelly Owen
  82. Deaconess Pat Hoerth
  83. Brian Becker
  84. Mary Champion
  85. Jamie Buckmaster
  86. Jill Nerio
  87. Todd Rusell
  88. Joelle Jolly
  89. Angela Hooper
  90. Ben Stevens
  91. Victoria Jolly
  92. Mark McRoberts
  93. Mike Edmison
  94. Kara Klamm
  95. Emily Jordan
  96. Jan Fletcher
  97. Christian Threadgill
  98. Sherri Chancellor
  99. Sean Ozee
  100. Daniel Buckmaster

  1. Nancy Christy
  2. Kimberly Cotter
  3. Stephen Smith
  4. Brad Hayes-Milligan
  5. Kenna Jackson
  6. Leslie Buford
  7. Ivy Griffey
  8. Matt Theis
  9. Keegan Long-Wheeler
  10. Sarah Poteet
  11. Jane Deal
  12. Janet Theis
  13. Don Skinner-Noble
  14. Jennifer Wilson-Burns
  15. Kimberli Brownlee
  16. Anita Breen
  17. Skyler Lusnia
  18. Kristin Moore
  19. Cathy Venable
  20. Marion McFadden
  21. Marguerite Langille-Hoppe
  22. Peggye Enlow
  23. Cleo Jackson
  24. Gayle Prentice
  25. Sigrid Krause
  26. Renee Boone
  27. Mary Smith
  28. Paula Severe
  29. Meghan Hull
  30. Adam Marlin
  31. Ranell Hill
  32. Adam Daigle
  33. Alan Jolly
  34. Robert Scott
  35. Linda Neal
  36. Eursey Franklin Lenoir
  37. Elizabeth Ann Gragg Lynch
  38. Joanne Colbert
  39. Becky Tomlinson
  40. Paige Long-Wheeler
  41. Steve Womack
  42. Diane Russell
  43. Machele Dill
  44. Angela Chambers
  45. Jim McGaughey
  46. Jayne Swift
  47. Janice Kerbs
  48. Kathleen Lee
  49. Richard Kurtz
  50. Angela Chambers
  51. Leslie Bissell
  52. Frank Youngblood
  53. Dane Clark
  54. Marvin Chiles
  55. Mark Ashton
  56. Elizabeth Noble
  57. Joyce Huckabay
  58. Sue Lark
  59. Joyce Darst
  60. MarEllen Benson
  61. Linda Outhier
  62. Brett A. Payne
  63. Eric Brown
  64. Justin North
  65. Philip J. Outhier
  66. Jessica Caruthers
  67. V. Jo Wheeler
  68. Sheila Powers
  69. Bruce Powers
  70. Ann Salazar
  71. Amy Wheeler
  72. Sylvia Nelson
  73. Amy Vandewalker
  74. Eleanor Dennison
  75. Richard Wansley
  76. Dr. Richard Wansley
  77. Steven Law
  78. Sheila Patterson
  79. Harold Patterson
  80. Libby Harrington
  81. Marti Cotts
  82. Meredith Davison
  83. April Merrill
  84. Amelia Patterson
  85. Debra Logue
  86. Rebecca Damron
  87. Kevin Hall
  88. Patricia Barton
  89. Emily Robnett
  90. Sue Swenson
  91. Sandra Cassimus
  92. Robert Scott
  93. Peggy Shelden
  94. Paul Betow
  95. Lori Markes
  96. Jeannine Gibbens
  97. Patricia Barton
  98. Emily Robnett
  99. Sue Swenson
  100. Brenna Long-Wheeler
  101. Sandra Cassimus
  102. Robert Scott
  103. Peggy Shelden
  104. Paul Betow
  105. Lori Markes
  106. Jeannine Gibbens
  107. Phil Leithner
  108. Paul Kelley Vieth
  109. Earl Mitchell
  110. Sandy Kanelakos
  111. Danielle Elder
  112. Anjie King
  113. Jean Hendrickson
  114. Walt Hendrickson
  115. Trish Gunby
  116. Becky Schaller
  117. Billie Sprouse

  1. Rev. Jim Gragg
  2. Rev. Trina Bose North
  3. Rev. Scott Spencer
  4. Rev. Jack Terrell-Wilkes
  5. Rev. Shelly Daigle
  6. Rev. Jeni Markham Clewell
  7. Rev. Nathan Mattox
  8. Rev. Dr. Mark Davies
  9. Rev. Paul W. Calkin
  10. Rev. Dr. Allen Buck
  11. Rev. Deborah Ingraham
  12. Rev. Bill Todd
  13. Rev. John D. Rusty Williams
  14. Rev. Valerie Steele
  15. Rev. Glenda Skinner-Noble
  16. Rev. Dr. Rex Wilkes
  17. Rev. Diana Cox Crawford
  18. Rev. David Rose
  19. Rev. Susan Ross
  20. Rev. Jeannie Himes
  21. Rev. Twila Gibbens
  22. Rev. Dennis Adlof
  23. Rev. Carole Minter
  24. Rev. Amy Venable
  25. Rev. Ed Light
  26. Rev. Anthony Zahn
  27. Rev. Margaret A. Ball
  28. Rev. Ginger Howl
  29. Rev. Dr. Leslie Long
  30. Rev. Margaret North
  31. Rev. Phil Jones
  32. Rev. Denny Hook
  33. Rev. Dr. Kirt E. Moelling
  34. Rev. Mike DeMoss
  35. Rev. Jennifer Long
  36. Rev. Sharon Betsworth
  37. Rev. Bruce Davis
  38. Rev. David Wiggs
  39. Rev. Bill Crowell
  40. Rev. Sonja Tobey
  41. Rev. Susanna Weslie Southard
  42. Rev. Jim Wilson
  43. Rev Dr Ellen Blue
  44. Rev. Dr. Grayson L Lucky
  45. Rev. Dr. Sheila Combs-Francis
  46. Rev. Tracy Schumpert
  47. Rev. Guy Langston
  48. Rev Marilynn Schellhamer
  49. Rev Linda Muterspaugh
  50. Rev. Kay Shock

  1. Rev. James Jones
  2. Rev. Marla Lobo
  3. Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Box Price
  4. Rev. John Price
  5. Rev. Dr. Sandy Wylie
  6. Rev. Mark Whitley
  7. Rev. Joel Betow
  8. Rev. Montie Jones
  9. Rev. Galeda Jones
  10. Rev. Glen Chebon Kernell
  11. Rev. Leroy Thompson
  12. Rev. Neal Baumwart
  13. Rev. Bill Hathaway
  14. Rev. Ginny Hathaway
  15. Rev. Rebecca Morton
  16. Rev. Daniel K Fletcher
  17. Rev. Warren K. Russell
  18. Rev. Susan Southall
  19. Rev. Suzanne Davis
  20. Rev. Marilyn Weathers
  21. Rev. Ron Weathers
  22. Rev. Ken Tobler
  23. Rev. Dr. Stan Basler
  24. Rev. Neil C Winslow
  25. Rev. Dr. Bill Moorer
  26. Rev. Josh Langille-Hoppe
  27. Rev. Dr. David Severe
  28. Rev. Dr. Phil Fenn
  29. Rev. John Adams
  30. Rev. Terry Martindale
  31. Rev. Linda McFadden
  32. Rev. Dr. Perry L. Williams
  33. Rev. Richard Whetsell
  34. Rev. Roger R. Wood
  35. Rev. Mary Lue Eastmond
  36. Rev. Bob Gardenhire
  37. Rev. Michael Asher
  38. Rev. David Clewell
  39. Rev. David Conrad
  40. Rev. April Coates
  41. Rev. Dr. Charlotte Teel
  42. Rev. Dr. Gene Hunt
  43. Rev. Helen Taylor
  44. Rev. Dr. William R. Chace
  45. Rev. Richard Cato
  46. Rev. Adam Leathers
  47. Rev. Pam Cottrill
  48. Rev. Marcia Shoemakee
  49. Rev. Linda Lusnia
  50. Rev. Carolyn Murrow

  1. Rev. Dan Frisby
  2. Rev. Susan Marks
  3. Rev. Charles King
  4. Rev. Keith O. McArtor
  5. Rev. Don Tabberer
  6. Rev Anne Clement
  7. Rev. Norman V Wasson
  8. Rev. Ed Cook
  9. Rev. Mary Ann Emmons
  10. Rev. Mary Ewing
  11. Rev. Ruth Karns Atterberry
  12. Rev. Sara Pugh Montgomery
  13. Rev. Connell Ghormley
  14. Rev. Kristiane Smith
  15. Rev. John M. Morgan
  16. Rev. Jen Logsdon-Kellogg
  17. Rev. Jerald Walker
  18. Rev. Linda Pope
  19. Rev. Don Nelson
  20. Rev. Richard Mauldin
  21. Rev Phil Ware
  22. Rev. Dale Tremper
  23. Rev. James W. Edmison
  24. Rev. Cindy Mayes
  25. Rev. Doug McPherson
  26. Rev. Kathy Gibson
  27. Rev. Michael Asher

 Clergy on this list are either not from Oklahoma or not United Methodist.

  1. Rev. Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli (Baltimore-Washington Conf).
  2. Rev. Carole Vincent
  3. Rev. Dorothy Coy Light (Christian (Disciples of Christ) OK)
  4. Rev. Cindy Roberts (Alaska Conf.)
  5. Rev. Jeremy Smith (Oregon-Idaho Conf.)
  6. Rev. Ann B Fields (Southwest Rio Grande Conf)
  7. Rev. Dr. Dyton L. Owen (Great Plains Conference)
  8. Rev. Susan Barton (UCC , OK) (Former United Methodist Clergy)
  9. Rev. Grady Mills (Retired, South Georgia Conference)
  10. Rev. Dr. Terrye Williams (Christian (DOC), Newport News, VA)
  11. Rev. John Hawk Co-Cke’ (Christian National Church)
  12. Clifford Solomon
  13. Dr. Charles Curl

Laity on this list are either not from Oklahoma or not United Methodist.

  1. Brian Petrotta
  2. Edwin Peart
  3. TC Cassidy, MPA, M.Div.
  4. Brian Petrotta
  5. Edwin Peart
  6. Marc DiPaolo
  7. Amy Baker
  8. Craig Jackson
  9. Gay Phillips
  10. Erik Radtke
  11. Brett Manis II
  12. Carolyn Hirst-Loucks
  13. Ira Davis
  14. Timothy Gauldin
  15. Julie Robinette
  16. Aaron Barnes
  17. Michael Browers
  18. Bonnie McCann
  19. Marla Patterson
  20. Barry McCokkener
  21. Anita Nash
  22. Arlene Wilder
  23. Alana Weibel
  24. Joan Corbin
  25. Gay Freebern
  26. Marlo Nash
  27. Cindy Alonso
  28. Julie Percival
  29. Julie Percival
  30. Nathan Graham
  31. Amy Wheeler
  32. Susan English
  33. Susan English
  34. Lynde Nash
  35. Mary McPherson
  36. Brenna Long-Wheeler