Media Coverage of the Charges against Greg, the Trial, and the Appeal

The Reverend Gregory Dell officiated at a covenant service for two gay men who were members of his congregation, Broadway United Methodist Church in Chicago. In 1998, he was charged with “Disobedience to the Order and Discipline of The United Methodist Church.” He was convicted and suspended indefinitely but upon appeal, a subsequent ruling limited the suspension to one year. After the suspension, he returned as pastor to Broadway UMC.

There was widespread media coverage of the charges against Greg, the trial, and the appeal.

Chronology

March 26, 1999: By a vote of 10 to 3, the trial court found the Rev. Greg Dell guilty of Disobedience to the Order and Discipline of The United Methodist Church. By a vote of 13 to 0 the court found him guilty of conducting the service between Keith Eccarius and Karl Reinhardt on Sept. 19, 1998. He will be suspended from his pastoral duties July 3, until he signs and submits to the bishop a document saying that he will abide by Paragraph 65c or until the paragraph is lifted or its binding nature is changed by General Conference or Judicial Council action.

April - May, 1999: Greg Dell announces he is to become the director of In All Things Charity. Greg Dell appeals the trial court ruling.

June - July, 1999: Northern Illinois elects Greg Dell as a delegate to General Conference. In July, he leaves his pastoral position at Broadway UMC when his suspension begins.

Monday, August 9, 1999: Greg Dell's hearing.

Friday, August 17, 1999: The jurisdictional court upholds the verdict but alters his penalty, giving it a specific length of time, rather than undetermined. Bishop Sprague announces that he will re-appoint Dell to Broadway UMC on July 1, 2000.

News and Views

1998

1999

2000