WASHINGTON -- A Methodist minister who took a leave of absence in 1999 to have a sex-change operation might be expelled from the clergy, according to The Washington Times.

The Baltimore-Washington United Methodist Conference is considering placing the Rev. Rebecca Steen, formerly the Rev. Richard Zomansky, on an involuntary leave of absence. The suspension would keep Steen from performing ministerial duties while church officials decide whether to expel her, the Times reported.

Steen had asked to be reassigned to a pulpit by July 1. Bishop Felton May originally said he would consider the request, but announced June 8 that a complaint filed against Steen delays any appointment and could lead to her expulsion. May didn't disclose details of the complaint.

The complaint process can take up to one year and lead to a trial before the national Methodist Judicial Council, conference spokesman Dean Snyder said. The council has final authority over any expulsions.

Steen would be the first transsexual to pastor a United Methodist church, according to the National Board of Ministry. She has faced opposition from laity and clergy, according to the Times.

The Institute on Religion and Democracy, a lay watchdog group on mainline Protestant churches, claims such issues of political correctness have led to declining Methodist membership.

"The liberal trends in Methodist conferences, especially those in the Northeastern U.S., have been driving traditionalists away for years," said Mark Tooley, director of the Institute's Methodist committee. "This appointment would provide an even more confused moral witness to people."