1.   Synod members were under pressure to crack down on gay clergy, who were portrayed as leading lives of wild abandon!

2.   A more contemporary issue is the ordination of gay clergy.

3.   Each diocese makes its own decisions about gay clergy, as well as about the blessing of same-sex couples.

4.   He said the church loses when its gay clergy fear being honest.

5.   Methodists, Presbyterians and Episcopalians have grappled with issues of the ordination of gay clergy and the blessing of gay unions in the past decade.

6.   The Unitarian Universalist Association also ordains gay clergy, allows homosexuals to serve in church leadership positions, and blesses gay unions.

7.   United Methodists passed an amendment that would prevent any gay UCC clergy from transferring into the UM church.

8.   Word Alone also opposes the move within the church to approve of same-sex unions and ordaining gay clergy.

9.   An anguished debate over gay clergy has already led to bitter disputes within the church.

10.   Arguments for upholding the ban on gay clergy were among briefs submitted to the council, but no one from that side asked to give oral arguments.