With the United Methodist Church’s recently announcing its General Conference would be rescheduled, further examples of the denomination’s rift over human sexuality are rising to the surface. The implementation of the church’s teachings and official doctrine, or lack thereof, continues to cause discomfort as camps with vastly different beliefs await an expected separation.
One such case comes from the Illinois-Great Rivers Annual Conference (IGRC), which covers the state except for its northernmost portion. IGRC’s Vermillion River District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM) has recently unanimously approved Isaac Simmons, an openly gay man and publicly practicing drag queen, as a candidate for ministry. Mr. Simmons currently works at Hope United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Illinois as their Project & Remote Learning Coordinator. He also studies Business Management and Religious Studies at Illinois Wesleyan University.
When performing as a drag queen, Mr. Simmons goes by the name Ms. Penny Cost, and in this role he performs both independently and at times as a part of Hope Church’s Sunday services.
On his public Facebook page, Mr. Simmons shares about his spiritual life and his latest activities in drag as Penny.
On February 7, Simmons, dressed in drag, had several minutes of screen time in Hope Church’s livestreamed Sunday service. He begins by describing poet laureate Amanda Gorman’s poetry performance given at the Presidential Inauguration, and compares it to how Moses was called by God to speak for his people. A video of the whole service can be found on the church’s Facebook page.
Earlier in the year, on January 19, Simmons appeared as drag queen Penny, this time in a short video titled: “On The Move Together: A Drag Queen’s Prayer,” shared on Hope’s Church’s website.
To give just one line that is illustrative of the spiritual practices of Simmons and many others in deeply progressive United Methodist circles, the drag queen began by praying, “In the name of God the Mother, the Father, and the trans-identifying person of color.” A written reflection placed below the video notes the Presidential Inauguration which would come the next day, which would appear to be “the marvelous movement of a justice-filled moment of transition” that Penny invites those listening to join.
On January 2, Mr. Simmons shared a nearly 30-minute video of himself speaking and praying the Rosary at home while dressed in drag. His goal in wearing drag was “to bridge the gap between spirituality and queerness, to show that they are not mutually exclusive.” He shared that the Rosary is one of his spiritual practices, and that he prays it almost every night: “Even though it is a Catholic tradition and I am a United Methodist, and… in the ordination process of the United Methodist Church, I find solace, I find hope in praying the Rosary, especially amidst the pandemic, amidst chaotic times.”
This time, Simmons opened his prayer by saying: “In the name of the Parent, and the Child, and the Holy Spirit.” Throughout the video, he avoids describing God as Father completely, and alternates between calling Jesus the Son or Child of God. Interestingly, Simmons always keeps the gendered title of “mother” for Mary.
It is very likely that the Vermillion River District DCOM members were aware that being a drag queen was part of Isaac Simmons life. For one, it is publicly part of his ministry at the church where he works. Further, parts of the Traditional Plan enacted in 2019 and upheld by the Judicial Council require “full examination and thorough inquiry” by district committees on ministry, such as screening clergy candidates’ social media.
As strict matters of church law, neither simply have same-sex attractions (without being a “self-avowed practicing homosexual”) nor dressing in drag disqualify him.
However, did the committee that unanimously approved of Mr. Simmons’s candidacy use good judgment? How many churches in their district or conference would be comfortable with a minister who is a drag queen? Would the people in the pews say his faith and works honor God and align with the Wesleyan tradition? Is Simmons committed to living by the UMC’s current sexual morality standards of either faithfulness in heterosexual marriage or celibate singleness?
In recent years, enforcement of church standards on sexuality in the ordination process has been dependent on the views of the resident bishop, district superintendents, and other local leaders.
District superintendents play a particularly important role because, as laid out in paragraph 666.1 of the Discipline, they annually nominate the members of the DCOM. In related news, Vermillion River District Superintendent Jim Barnett recently named the IRD as one of the demonic “principalities and powers” that are supposedly aligned to fracture the family of believers in Christ and “stir up trouble.” You can read his full column in IGRC’s March newsletter here.
While Isaac Simmons’s case is an exception to the norm in many ways, the post-separation United Methodist Church is headed for a future where we can expect such clergy candidates will be affirmed. The newly launched Global Methodist Church, by contrast, is founded on traditional Biblical views, and will aim to hold their clergy to clear standards on human sexuality and traditional Christian teaching about gender.
Update [3/16/2021]: Simmons discusses his ordination candidacy here.
Update [10/14/2022]: Isaac Simmons preached October 2 at Allendale UMC in St. Petersburg, Florida, as Ms. Penny Cost, including a children’s sermon. Read more here.
Comment by Mike on March 12, 2021 at 6:04 pm
Disgusting. Any so-called “Christian” group that would ordain someone like this pervert has completely departed the faith once delivered unto the saints.
Comment by Jeff on March 12, 2021 at 7:00 pm
EPHESIANS 5:
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
“But SEXUAL IMMORALITY OR ALL IMPURITY AND COVETOUSNESS must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
“For you may be sure of this, that EVERYONE WHO IS SEXUALLY IMMORAL OR IMPURE, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), HAS NO INHERITANCE IN THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST AND GOD. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
“THEREFORE DO NOT BECOME PARTNERS WITH THEM; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
“TAKE NOT PART IN THE UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKENESS, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ”
The demon-obsessed soul that calls itself “Penny Cost” gonna have some ‘splainin’ to do — as will those shameful heretics who have partnered with ‘him’ in this evil, and “ordained” this unrepentant son of satan to go out into the flock to spread impurity.
Comment by td on March 12, 2021 at 7:39 pm
I think the most disqualifying item here is that the person does not uphold the nicene creed. The pastoral leadership of Hope united methodist is obviously not promoting christianity, and you would think that would disqualify their pastor from continuing service.
Comment by Stephen on March 12, 2021 at 9:08 pm
Romans 1 : 28-29 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Comment by Pirate Preacher on March 12, 2021 at 9:37 pm
The easy (flesh) reaction is to poke fun, judge, condemn. We are called to resist the spirit of the flesh and love. For all I know Penny may be reading this article and watching to see if any who claim to be experts in the Law, love. If Penny were my son I would pray that one like Christ could be found to both love and lead him out of darkness and into light.
Penny, you are in my prayers. God sees your pain, know your fears, and is waiting for you to turn towards him. Email me and we will walk our way towards The Sun.
Comment by Ela cruz on March 13, 2021 at 7:24 am
It’s time!
We have to part ways. God bless us both.
Comment by Gary on March 13, 2021 at 9:58 am
I predict a meteoric rise to Bishop.
Comment by Indy Jones on March 13, 2021 at 10:30 am
I’m sorry, but at this point, I’m going to have to set my Methodism aside. I’m starting to fear for my own soul just being associated.
Comment by John Smith on March 13, 2021 at 10:56 am
This statement is in error:
“In recent years, enforcement of church standards on sexuality in the ordination process has been dependent on the views of the resident bishop, district superintendents, and other local leaders”
and should be amended to say “In recent decades….” and the phrase “…on sexuality…” should b removed. The UMC has not enforced any standards for a long time and views personal beliefs as being superior to scripture.
Comment by Jim Radford on March 13, 2021 at 12:49 pm
An ordained drag queen is, in my totally not humble opinion, an oxymoron. No such thing. Some, I’m sure, have seen the TV adds for a reality show entitled, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (just think of what impact this has, and will have, on developing young minds–that being a drag queen is quite alright and endorsed by the major networks). This is where the nation–and the world–is now, in that through its spiritual blindness, it just can’t seem to understand why what it wants to do–unmoored as it definitely is from Jesus Christ–is deemed unacceptable, and not by just a few. Some on this site know, too, that I have stated in the past that I am not in favor of a split (yet another schism), and that I have no intention of joining the WCA (Wesleyan Covenant Association), the IRD–and God Bless You Guys and Girls–and the Good News, only because I think that this is a not a good move, and certainly not a ecclesial panacea. The new denomination (the Global Methodist Church? ) will be fraught with its own internal struggles, theological disputes, power plays, and divisive opinions. I always felt, and I still feel, that we should all stay and fight this creeping secularism, while maintaining the absolute and non-negotiable supremacy, Solus Christus: the Way, the Truth, and the Life of the Risen Christ Jesus. Think Augustine vs Pelagians, Manichaeans, and Arians, Irenaeus vs. Gnosticism and other heresies, el al. However, my refusal to identify with the new “split-off” does not in any way mean, nor should be construed, that I am staying with, or endorsing, the remaining denomination (yeah, the one that will ordain, sign off on, and give a thumbs-up to, drag queen ministers). Far from it. We are, in my mind, a fractured mess right now. And only Jesus Himself is going to clean this up.
Comment by Jim Radford on March 13, 2021 at 12:59 pm
I really hate making typos. Sometimes the computer takes upon itself the belief that it knows better than I what I am trying to say, and re-spells something that I didn’t intend, nor did I catch in editing. Small thing, but “adds” are not the same thing as “ads.” Just a mild irritation that most people, and most of the time, even I, wouldn’t even bother with.
Comment by David Kueker on March 13, 2021 at 1:14 pm
Any one who has any knowledge of our polity understands that District committees don’t ordain anyone. Even if this actually happened as described, it’s only the first step in a very long process toward working as a local church pastor. It’s the equivalent of being allowed to register for classes at a community college … not in any way a final decision.
So … the details are important. And were skipped over in the article.
Comment by David Kueker on March 13, 2021 at 1:20 pm
PS I am the vice chair of the District Committee on Ministry in another district of the same Conference that was mentioned.
Comment by Tracey Karcher on March 13, 2021 at 1:29 pm
And the DCOM in my district refused my request for licensing for no other apparent reason than my being a strong, confident woman. Since I was not given a reason, that’s all I, and my supporting clergy and lay leaders, could come up with. <shaking my head) (Yellowstone Legacy Conf.)
Comment by Polly on March 13, 2021 at 4:16 pm
I’m a part of a group who exposes the sex ed curriculum that is being incorporated in elementary, middle and high schools all over the nation. It is normalizing the lgbt agenda in the classroom. Basically it is grooming children for sex. We put pressure on legislators to pass legislation to protect our innocent children. Drag queens are part of this agenda. They are invited to read aloud to kids , invite kids to sit on their laps, etc. This is mostly in school libraries, but in classrooms if they can get away with it. Surprise, surprise many of these drag queens have records of child molestation and prostitution. The lgbt agenda has teamed up with planned parenthood and church officials. Preachers don’t want to expose this, as they are scared of losing the two big m’s, money and membership. They ignore it. That is why this drag queen issue has gotten so far. I have quit the Methodist church. I brought up the lgbt issue in my Sunday School class. They pooed pooed it and got half way angry with me. They church needs to split immediately but MONEY keeps getting in the way. I am disgusted with them. I was raised in the Methodist church.
Comment by Gay Crandell on March 13, 2021 at 5:51 pm
I am very concerned about the Methodist Church helping and backing sex between a Woman and Woman or man/man… It is wrong.. Read Romans…. They should not accept them in the church…unless they Repent… Jesus said, go and sin no more….Amen
I am really saddened… Please come back to the Bible .. Gay C.
Comment by William on March 14, 2021 at 11:20 am
The liberal bishop of the North Georgia Conference had this posted on the conference website around a year ago —- “This Protocol offers a path for The United Methodist Church to continue to be a denomination for those with traditional, centrist, and progressive perspectives. The post-separation United Methodist Church will continue to have room for divergent perspectives and value diversity as an essential component of our faith.”
This bishop would likely have no objections to this candidate, given the track record of said bishop, and would likely celebrate this.
Yet, FOR THOSE WITH A TRADITIONAL PERSPECTIVE, a “path” will be offered to “remain” in the emerging, new, and officially liberal post-separation UMC that would “continue” to have room for DIVERGENT PERSPECTIVES and VALUE DIVERSITY AS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF FAITH?
PATH?
REMAIN?
CONTINUE?
ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF OUR FAITH?
Comment by William on March 14, 2021 at 11:34 am
And, the nail of ultimate insult and egregious disrespect to traditionalists in the North Georgia Conference that was driven in with a sledge hammer by the bishop stated —- “The Protocol also offers a path to separate for those whose convictions do not allow them to continue to be United Methodist.”
THOSE?
Comment by Stephanie on March 14, 2021 at 1:06 pm
All of these comments speaking hatefully…I hope you find God. I’ll pray for you.
Comment by Joan Sibbald on March 14, 2021 at 1:59 pm
Proverbs 17: 13 says, “If you repay evil for good, evil will never leave your house.”
Evil is incremental: LGBT…S&M…THROUPLE…PORN….PEDO…F…PP…Q…men marrying men…women marrying women…men turning into women…women turning into men…boys turning into girls…girls turning into boys…
In CA “Aztec Worship” chants now being proposed for schools (americanthinker.com)………
Comment by David on March 14, 2021 at 2:36 pm
As long as we are on the subject of denominational embarrassments, we should not ignore the Southern Baptists:
“’There comes a time when you have to say, this is not who I am,” Beth Moore, told Religion News Service in an interview published on Tuesday. “I am still a Baptist, but I can no longer identify with Southern Baptists,’ she added.”
“Her stature in the movement poses a serious challenge for the Southern Baptist Convention, which has already been embroiled for years in debates not just about Mr. Trump, but about racism, misogyny and the handling of sexual abuse cases. Its membership is in decline.”
Comment by Ellen Richardson on March 14, 2021 at 5:03 pm
What someone does privately is their business BUT people like this chap insists to be in one’s face and force their particular lifestyle upon us all.
It’s not a matter of tolerance but of good taste and manners which this man and others like him and those pushing WOKE transphibian behavior on us all.
We should not have to deal with it. There are other venues where this sort of behavior can be vented. It will spell the end of this church.
As an aside this fellow is not a good female impersonator. He does not look at all like a woman, but as a silly caricature , a bad copy of Jack Lemmon’s performance in Some like It Hot.
Comment by Naomi P Wade on March 14, 2021 at 5:31 pm
This is a total mockery of all Jesus went through for us. It is completely away from all He spoke & did. He was always going into the areas where the ‘lost’ lived. He ate with them. He sat with them. He was friends with all. He loved everyone. But, He was always reminding them [us] that ‘the kingdom was at hand’. He did not participate in the activities, etc. He went out to the garden & cried & prayed. He celebrated people BUT He did not celebrate all that they [we] do. This is NOT in His name. This is just the personal satisfaction of this one person’s ‘mental state’ There is no Pentecost involved in this or this person would have the deep humility of saying ‘Father, I have sinned– forgive me’. On the cross Jesus prayed for our forgiveness — ‘Father forgive them, they know not what they do’. He cries for this [us]. This should NOT be in the pulpit. It should NOT be head of the sanctuary. There will NOT be a flame over this head, when he is mocking the whole realism of Jesus, the Son of God — the Trinity. Jesus did not give His life, so there could be ‘pride’ in this — He wanted us to be changed BACK into the image of the Father– the creator of us all…. This makes HIM cry. I cannot judge the heart of this person, it is subject to change. BUT, we have a responsibility to reject these actions, with love– . It is possible. This is cause for DEEP Sorrow… not celebration.
Comment by David on March 15, 2021 at 7:35 am
I never understood why people should want to be a member of the opposite sex when we enjoy the freedom today to pursue activities associated with the other. Undergoing physical changes seems unnecessary and medically dangerous. Women’s dress has evolved to a more practical form where pants are acceptable. In some cultures, women normally wore pants. Men’s dress remains more conservative and subdued compared to that of women. I suppose there are those that yearn for more decorative clothing, but that is hardly a necessity in life. Wearing something outlandish certainly diminishes one’s “gravitas” especially in the case of a leader. A pastor dressed as a circus clown might be innocent, but is out of place.
I weary of hearing of the “gay agenda” that has the same status and purposes as the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion.” People claim all sorts of things about it, though no one can put their finger on who wrote it or rarified it. What gays want are basic human rights: employment, housing, education, family life, public accommodation, and freedom from persecution. Educating children to not attack minorities is not the same as trying to convert them to one thing or another.
Comment by Jeff on March 15, 2021 at 8:18 am
BS, David.
Today, sexual deviants (homo, trans, pedo, poly, etc. etc.) demand way more than to be left alone and treated as human beings (to that they are entitled, I agree).
No, today’s alphabet activist wants to be worshipped! Celebrated! Admired! Elevated! Endorsed! Privileged!
It is not scripturally acceptable to call evil good and worship it as an idol. Yet THAT, not basic human rights, is precisely what they demand. The blasphemous “Penny” is Exhibit A.
Comment by David on March 15, 2021 at 10:04 am
“Wants to be worshipped! Celebrated! Admired! Elevated! Endorsed! Privileged!” This sounds like a recent person in Washington. Narcissistic personalities come in all sexual orientations.
Comment by Dan Moran (author) on March 15, 2021 at 10:18 am
David Kueker,
Certainly being ordained and being approved as a candidate for ordained ministry are different – that’s why I didn’t say anywhere in the article that Mr. Simmons has been ordained yet, and why the title calls him a “candidate.”
My series of hypothetical questions later in the article look ahead towards a time where he is ordained, since there seems to be a fair chance he goes through the whole ordination process.
Why important details about United Methodist polity do you think I overlooked or got wrong? I don’t intend to cover every detail of the process, as that would make for a very long article, but I do want to be as accurate of a writer as possible.
Comment by Patrick98 on March 15, 2021 at 11:38 am
Ellen,
Drag is the misogynistic equivalent of blackface.
Blackface is no longer considered acceptable, yet somehow women have not risen up and voiced their opposition to drag. Hmmmm… I can only wonder why this is.
Comment by Douglas E Ehrhardt on March 15, 2021 at 12:39 pm
So the homosexual agenda is a conspiracy theory. You ought to check out the many Christian ministries that help people leave that bondage. The testimonials are very inspiring.
Comment by David on March 15, 2021 at 1:08 pm
Yes the idea of some mysterious malign agenda is a conspiracy theory. As far as choices, what is your favorite color? When did you chose this color? Could you decide tomorrow that something else would be your favorite or is it something more innate?
Comment by Douglas on March 15, 2021 at 5:03 pm
The people who come to ministries seeking freedom from sexual addictions and dysfunction are there by choice. There is a whole lot of nasty stuff that comes with a perverted lifestyle.
Comment by Pat on March 15, 2021 at 5:29 pm
Thank you Jeff for your comments. Truth!
Comment by bsdunek on March 15, 2021 at 7:09 pm
So they fill the Pulpits and the offices with mentally ill people and expect the church to grow? I can tell you we’re about to leave the UMC after nearly 75 years (yes, long before it was the UMC). Disgusting!!!
Comment by Lee Cary on March 15, 2021 at 7:48 pm
The Babylon Bee has nothing to compete with this article.
Comment by Mark Cartner on March 15, 2021 at 10:55 pm
Is it 2022 yet?
Comment by Lisa Clark on March 18, 2021 at 3:52 pm
Chin on chest; shaking head in disbelief. The church has become a circus. How can piety coexist with this?
Comment by Jeff on March 19, 2021 at 1:42 am
Lisa,
>> The church has become a circus. How can piety coexist with this?
THE CHURCH has no worries. By THE CHURCH I mean the Matthew 16:18 Church, for as Jesus the CHRIST proclaims “… upon this rock I will build My CHURCH and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it”. This is the Word of our LORD and we CAN trust it!
As with essentially *all* humanly imperfect implementations of CHRIST’s “church”, present and past, the current Methodist Church has issues. To say the least. 😉
Piety exists within you, Lisa. Just practice piety and it will, by definition, coexist with a broken world. Thereby, you are part of the solution! Practice piety while “belonging” to the “UMC”, or after leaving that tribe for another, or starting your own Acts 8 home church, or whatever.
I empathize with you; I have “one foot in” and “one foot out” of the UMC at the moment. It’s a soul struggle for me. Historically, not by any means the first such struggle Christians and Christendom has faced in two thousand years of time since the New Covenant.
May GOD bless you richly in every way, Lisa! “Seek and ye shall find”.
Blessings,
Jeff
Comment by Bevan on March 25, 2021 at 1:14 pm
Would we consider a candidate that dressed and acted like a clown while conducting the sacraments. Is the committee just looking for entertainment at the cost of our souls?
Comment by Lola Rosenberger on May 20, 2021 at 11:33 pm
As a former Methodist and pastors wife I am saddened at the turn the Methodist church has made and it isn’t for the good. This church is facing same issue as NY with pandemic: people are literally turning their backs and walking away. And I am among them.
May God have mercy on us all!