CHICAGO -- A group of United Methodist clergy and lay people have accused Chicago Bishop Joseph Sprague of violating church teaching on salvation and the virgin birth of Jesus, according to The Associated Press.
The complaint, filed Jan. 7, starts a church discipline process that carries a range of punishments and could force Sprague from ministry.
Sprague declined to comment, saying the complaint process is supposed to be confidential.
The Rev. Thomas Lambrecht of Greenville, Wis., spokesman for the 28 people who signed the complaint, said Sprague denied the virgin birth of Jesus and rejected church teaching that Christ is the only way to salvation. The statements allegedly came in a speech last year and in his writings, according to the AP.
The group says Sprague's comments violated the Methodist's Book of Discipline prohibition against teaching contrary to church doctrine.
