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Daily Nebraskan columnist John Gaskins chron
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^uvr<ivii>vj ina umviiiwsn x OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN SINCE 1901 NO. 60
Creech to
begin 2nd
church trial
■ The reverend has performed
two same-sex marriages, one in
Nebraska, one in North Carolina.
By Dane Stickney
Staff writer
Traditionally, the Bible has been used to con
demn homosexuality, but many Christians believe
the teachings of Jesus Christ encourage tolerance,
acceptance and forgiveness of all people.
Because of this fundamental difference, the
United Methodist Church is split in its views about
homosexuality.
Today, the second church trial questioning the
practices of die Rev. Jimmy Creech, who has per
formed same-sex marriages in North Carolina and
Nebraska, starts in Grand Island. The trial is more
lhan just a debate about same-sex marriages; it is a
fiebate of Methodist church doctrine.
» In 1996, the members of the United Methodist
Church national conference voted to include a
statement in the Book of Discipline that discour
aged Methodist pastors from conducting same-sex
marriages.
In March 1998, Creech was brought to a
church trial in Kearney for performing a marriage
ceremony for two women in Omaha. Creech was
found not guilty for violating church law because
the statement in the Book of Discipline was not
regarded as church law.
In August 1998, the Judicial Council of the
United Methodist Church declared that the state
ment would thereafter be church law.
After that decision, Creech conducted a wed
ding ceremony for two men in North Carolina.
Consequently, he is now being tried again in Grand
Island for breaking church law.
Jay Vetter, pastor of Lincoln’s Christ United
Methodist Church, said he is offended by the
church’s decision to try Creech again.
“This trial shouldn’t happen,” Vetter said. “He
should not have been brought back to Nebraska to
face another trial. I’m planning to go out and get
arrested in the protest.”
Vetter said the topic of same-sex marriages has
• become a political statement instead of a question
of pastoral care.
“I feel like the church is trying to draw a line
Please see TRIAL on 7
By JillZeman
Staff writer
Telling stories all day is a lot harder than it
sounds.
Matt “Sitting Bear” Jones, University of
Nebraska-Lincoln instructor in the institute for
ethnic studies, learned this lesson early in his sto
rytelling career.
“I’ve always been a storyteller,” Jones said.
But his first real performances began when he
was a freshman at Haskell Indian Junior College
in Lawrence, Kan.
On Oct. 21, Jones was honored with the Mari
Sandoz award for his storytelling and lecturing
skills.
Jones debuted his storytelling skills at a
small-town festival, thinking he would tell a few
stories and repeat them throughout the day. To
his surprise, his audience never left.
The same people sat for eight hours, through
all 16 of his performances.
II
People have the image of Indians never laughing, and
through my stories I hope to fight that stereotype?
Matt “Sitting Bear” Jones
storyteller
“I came back from my break and thought I
had a new audience, but instead the people from
the back had moved to the front,” Jones said.
Jones made it through the day without
repeating a single story.
“I was most proud that I gave the audience a
new perspective of my culture in each perfor
mance,” he said Jones grew up on reservations
in Oklahoma and Kansas as a member of the
Kiowa and Ote-Missouri tribes. Jones’ back
ground provides much inspiration for his stories.
He attended Haskell Indian Junior College
and Wichita State University, receiving a bache
lor’s of arts degree in mass communications.
Jones incorporates storytelling into his lec
tures by highlighting different styles and tech
niques.
These techniques include animation, pan
tomime, voice, movement and characterization.
Jones has been teaching for three years, with
Courses including University Foundations 101
and Curriculum and Instruction 330.
Jones’ favorite part of storytelling is the
opportunity to interact with all types of groups,
Please see JONES on 7
Phi Delta members hope to move back into house
By Kimberly Sweet
Senior staff writer
Members of UNDs oldest fraternity hope to
return to their house next semester after facing the
threat of shutting down permanently.
After recruiting two new members and several
I prospects, members of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity
are making plans to re-occupy their house after
being forced out earlier this year.
“I’m ecstatic that our house is reopening,” said
Tom Butler, a senior member of the fraternity.
**11)6 house contains three years of memories for
me-I’m happy that the new guys we’re recruiting
will have more of those memories.”
The tentative move-in date is spring 2000,
pending necessary loans from the Phi Deftk Theta
general headquarters, said David Lempp, presi
dent of the fraternity.
Members found out they would be able to
move back into their house after recruiting men
during a formal rush conducted by the Inter
Fratemity Council last week.
The housing corporation is helping the frater
nity secure loans to keep the house running as it
builds its membership, Lempp said.
The house recruited two members to add to its
six during a formal rush conducted last week by
the Interfiratemity Council, said Troy Battles,
director of expansion for the general headquarters.
The general headquarters will help die fratemi
RpnA the D/rilv Nehmsh/in nn the1
ty recruit more members to occupy its house,
which holds 69 members.
“We are planning a full public relations cam
paign starting around January,” Bartles said.
While fraternity members are excited about
the prospects of moving back into their house, the
hardest part is yet to come.
With six of the eight members graduating in
May, Bartles said die fraternity would have to do a
lot of work to recruit men who will jump quickly
into die house's leadership roles.
Members of the general headquarters will
come to Lincoln in January to take over the
process.
“Wta going to sell it as a leadership opportu
nity,’* Bartles said. “Members will have a chance to
VnrlA Wirlp Wt>h at ft/vlvnph mm
be president or hold another office right away”
Bartles said he thinks the fraternity would have
better hick recruiting men during the year than they
do during the summer - the time UNL fraternities
typically try to draw men.
With chapters at the University of Nebraska at
Kearney, the University ofNebraska at Omaha and
Creighton University, there will be plenty of mem
bers to help out, Bartles said.
Alumni will also be part of the rebuilding
process, he said
Members are preparing themselves for the
recruiting efforts that will take place when mem
bers of the general headquarters arrive on campus.
Please see HOUSE on 8