NORTHEAST

METHODIST JURY DEFROCKS LESBIAN MINISTER PUGHTOWN, Pa. – The United Methodist Church defrocked a lesbian minister who lives with her partner yesterday for violating the denomination’s ban on actively gay clergy – the first such decision by the church in 17 years.

A 13-member jury made up of Methodist clergy convicted Reverend Irene Elizabeth Stroud on the second day of her church trial. Methodist law bars “self avowed, practicing homosexuals” from ministry. Nine votes were necessary for a conviction, and the jury voted 12-1 to find Ms. Stroud guilty.

It then voted 7-6 to defrock Ms. Stroud, the bare majority necessary in the penalty phase of the trial, though her supportive congregation in Philadelphia has said Ms. Stroud can continue performing most of her duties, except celebrating baptism and Holy Communion.

“I did not go into this trial expecting to win,” Ms. Stroud said. “I went into it knowing it would be a painful moment in the life of the United Methodist Church.”

Ms. Stroud had yet to decide whether to appeal the verdict, which she can do at any point in the next 30 days. The basic facts in the case were never in dispute, since Ms. Stroud had declared she is gay. Ms. Stroud’s defense counsel, the Reverend J. Dennis Williams, said in closing arguments that “the heart of the issue is whether all United Methodists, regardless of status, are to be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities.”

– Associated Press

WASHINGTON

CITIES WITH HIGH RISK OF TERROR ATTACK GET $854 MILLION Fifty cities will share a fresh infusion of more than $850 million under a Homeland Security program for places at high risk of terror attacks, officials said yesterday.

The biggest chunk of funding, nearly a quarter of the total, will be directed toward New York City, which has complained – including at the Republican National Convention – that it has been shortchanged in the distribution of such money. The list of 50 recipient cities which are to share some $854.6 million was being announced late yesterday by the Homeland Security Department.

A copy obtained by The Associated Press shows New York City due to receive $207 million, followed by the Washington area with $77.5 million, Los Angeles with $61.2 million, and Chicago with $45 million. All the dollar figures are for the 2005 fiscal year. Under a new addition to the program, the $850 million will include a total of $25 million for nonprofits in certain cities.

The dramatic boost for New York, which received less than $50 million in the last installment of such funding, was welcome news to those who had urged the government to pay more attention to terror worries in heavily populated areas.

The commission investigating the September 11 attacks had urged the government to rethink the way it distributes funding for local authorities trying to prevent terrorism, singling out New York as a city in need of much more help.

But the news wasn’t good for everyone. Fresno, Calif., Richmond, Va., and Albany, N.Y., all of which received money through the program in the last cycle, were left off the list this time. The new distribution marked the first time Fort Worth, Texas, has appeared on the list. It is in line for some $5.4 million.

The federal funds are to be directed to state governments, who will then pass them on to the municipalities.

– Associated Press

SOUTH

FIVE KILLED IN CRASH OF SMALL PLANE COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. – A small plane carrying Seventh-day Adventist Church officials crashed yesterday soon after taking off from an airport in a rural, mountainous area, killing all but one of the six people on board.

The only survivor, co-pilot Jim Huff, walked away from the crash site and was taken to a Chattanooga hospital, Sheriff John Cupp said. The twin-engine Cessna 421 crashed, caught fire, and broke apart in a thicket of trees about just over a mile north of the Collegedale Municipal Airport. Airport manager Frank Zarski said the plane crashed because of engine failure. The pilot, John Laswell, and four passengers were killed. The group had been meeting at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, and was traveling to Knoxville for meetings with other church Seventh-day Adventist pastors and past conference presidents.

Church officials said the passengers killed were Dave Cress, the conference’s president; Jim Frost, its executive secretary; Jamie Arnall, director of communication; and Clay Farwell, assistant to the conference president.

– Associated Press