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United Methodists End Gay Clergy Ban, New Weinstein Trial Post-Labor Day, Author Paul Auster Dies at 77
Just reporting the facts.
Centrist Chronicle
May 03, 2024
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Yesterday, the United Methodist Church, a major Protestant denomination in the U.S. with approximately 10 million members globally, voted to overturn a 40-year-old policy that prohibited the ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy. This significant decision came during their General Conference, which is the supreme decision-making body of the church and convenes every four years.
The vote, which concluded with a decisive 692-51 margin, reverses a regulation established in 1984 that explicitly barred LGBTQ+ individuals from becoming ordained ministers. Although this ban has been a longstanding point of contention within the church, it has recognized the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people in other respects.
Despite the formal policy, some church leaders in recent years have chosen not to enforce the ban. Since 2020, the church has allowed what is known as disaffiliation, permitting traditionalist Methodist congregations to leave the denomination while keeping their church properties. This provision saw about 7,600 church communities, roughly a quarter of the conference, depart over three years.
The conference will continue tomorrow, with additional votes anticipated on related matters.
Harvey Weinstein is set for a new trial in New York following Labor Day.
The former film producer made a court appearance in New York on Wednesday for the first time since his 2020 rape conviction was vacated. Judge Curtis Farber scheduled a May 29 hearing to address discovery issues and for the prosecution to submit a certificate of compliance. Should the certificate be filed by that deadline, the judge indicated that the trial would commence sometime after Labor Day.
Weinstein entered the courtroom in a wheelchair, donned a blue suit adorned with an American flag pin, following a recent hospitalization. Upon arrival, he acknowledged and greeted the attorneys in the front row, including shaking hands as he exited. Attorney Arthur Aidala provided his legal representation, and the courtroom was fully attended, including by Jessica Mann, a key witness from the initial New York trial.
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Renowned author Paul Auster, celebrated for his novels that delved into existential questions of identity, language, and the essence of literature, has passed away at the age of 77.
His passing was confirmed by his friend Jacki Lyden, representing Auster's family.
Auster was a prominent voice among postmodern American writers. He authored over 20 novels, notable among them The New York Trilogy, which includes his acclaimed 1985 work, City of Glass, and the expansive 2017 novel 4 3 2 1, spanning nearly 1,000 pages.
"Auster was a truly exciting and compelling voice in his generation," noted Alys Moody, a professor specializing in postwar American literature. "He will be remembered as a pivotal figure in the postmodern tradition, redefining the significance of language, writing, and, most importantly, storytelling."