SEATTLE--The Rev. Karen Dammann, the United Methodist Church pastor whose recent church trial rekindled the homosexuality debate with the organization, will not return to her church, according to a Seattle Times story.

The First United Methodist Church of Ellensburg will be a less controversial place in her absence. But Dammann told the Times her reasons for extending her leave were not all due to publicity and stress. There is also a health issue as the young son of Meredith Savage, the woman with whom Dammann admitted to having a lesbian relationship, suffers from a lung ailment. Damman also said Savage is now seeking more stable employment. Dammann said she may seek an appointment next year, but has not decided where.

Bishop Elias Galvan, head of the church's Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, plans to appoint the Rev. Katherine Makus of Colfax to the Ellensburg church this summer, said Ron Hines, superintendent of the church district that includes Ellensburg.

Larry Lowther, a 76-year-old member of the Ellensburg church, said Dammann had the support of most of the 100-member congregation and that "we were disappointed that she wouldn't be coming back."

Richard Tate, 67, also a member of the congregation, said he had mixed feelings about Dammann's decision. "I respect her as a person. It's kind of sad to see somebody go through what she had to go through." But "as a symbol of the church, of the Bible, she's wrong. ... So I'm grateful she's not coming back. I think it sends the wrong message to Methodists worldwide."

Dammann was charged with practices "incompatible with Christian teaching" during her church trial, but the trial jury acquitted her because they found Methodist laws and teaching about homosexual acts strong enough.

The subsequent denominational gathering in Pittsburgh ended with a revision of church laws to more clearly state that homosexual acts are "incompatible with Christian teaching."

The Judicial Council issued decisions making it easier to enforce the ban on actively gay clergy. First, it said the church's condemnations of homosexual behavior were indeed declarations. It also said the practice of homosexuality was a chargeable offense for clergy. And it declared that local bishops could not appoint "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals" to ministry positions.

It is unclear whether the latter decision could still affect Dammann or whether it would apply only to those clergy who are found in future church trials to be actively gay.