Today, the Rev. Karen Dammann, who three years ago declared she was in an openly gay relationship, faces perhaps one of the most grueling events of her life: a church trial for breaking United Methodist law by being a minister while in such a r elationship.
Last week, the pastor, who formerly served in Seattle and most recently in Ellensburg, Wash., experienced one of the happiest events: She got married.
''I wanted to be supportive of the effort to move our culture'' toward open acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships, said Dammann, shortly after she and her partner of about nine years, Meredith Savage, wed in Portland, Ore., where county officials opened the door to gay marriage this month. ''We wanted to add our relationship to all the others that stand to be recognized.''
Similarly, Dammann hopes her trial, scheduled to start Wednesday at Bothell United Methodist Church, will help move society and the church toward greater acceptance of gay clergy. Retired Bishop William Boyd Grove, of West Virginia, will preside at the trial, which is drawing national attention.
Now on family leave from Ellensburg United Methodist Church, Dammann is accused of breaking church law, which prohibits the ordination of ''self-avowed practicing homosexuals.'' If a jury of fellow clergy, selected from a pool appointed by Pacific Northwest regional church leaders, finds her guilty, it may remove her from ministry.
''It's a lot of turmoil,'' said Dammann, 47. ''It's sobering to realize a week from now ... I could be a layperson.''
Just as the consecration of openly gay Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson revealed deep splits in his denomination, both nationally and worldwide, so too does Dammann's trial.
If she is acquitted, she would be considered in good standing and be available for further assignments. The church could not appeal that verdict.
While a few other Methodist clergy over the years have faced church trials for blessing same-gender unions, there has been only one church trial in the past 20 years in the Pacific Northwest Conference.