UMC?s trial of the lesbian Pastor, Karen Dammann has began on Wednesday, 17 March at Bothell, Washington, United Methodist Church. At 4 pm Pacific time, the trial was formally started.

The trial was convened by Bishop William Boyd Grove, presiding officer. Grove stated his intention to begin each day of the trial with prayer and a period of silence and asked those present to pray for a pure heart.

After the prayer, he reminded jury members that according to church law they must start with a presumption of innocence and that the burden of proof shall be "clear and convincing."

Rev. Karen Dammann was accompanied with her partner, Meredith Savage, and their 5-year-old son, Beckett on the trial.

Dammann is accused of violation of church law proscribing "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" from serving as United Methodist pastors. The denomination's Book of Discipline forbids "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" from being ordained or appointed to United Methodist ministry.

Rev Dammann was asked what her plea was after Groove read the charge, she replied "not guilty."

As proceedings were approximately three hours behind schedule today, just two witnesses for the defense were heard before adjournment at 6: 15 pm Pacific Time.

The defense counsel, the Rev. Robert Ward, characterized the church's policy on homosexuality as "don't ask, don't tell.?

He noted that after receiving a letter from Dammann stating she was homosexual, the conference clergy had voted to reaffirm her standing in the conference. "Karen chose not to live the lie,?he added.

Two witnesses for the defense were heard. First is Rev. Jeffrey Kuan, an ordained elder and biblical scholar at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, testified that "selective interpretation" of certain Old Testament passages has been inappropriately applied in the debate on homosexuality.

Mary Tolbert, a professor of biblical studies at Pacific School of Religion, testified that certain New Testament passages, commonly seen as addressing homosexuality, are unreliable because of translation issues and lack of understanding of the cultural context.

She also stated that many passages in the New Testament speak clearly against divorce and remarriage, yet United Methodist doctrine allows clergy to be divorced and remarried. She challenged the jury-comprising 13 clergy members - to demand consistency when using Scripture to justify church doctrine, suggesting if remarried clergy are accepted, then homosexual clergy should not be rejected.

"With all due respect," said Tolbert, "it seems to me you are acting as a hypocrite."

The trial is scheduled to resume at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 18. The trial is being held at Bothell (Wash.) United Methodist Church. Bishop William Boyd Grove is the presiding officer.