The decision, released on Monday following oral arguments last Thursday, unifies both the judicial and legislative branches of the nation's third-largest denomination against accepting gay pastors.

The United Methodist General Conference, which sets policy for the denomination, voted last year to maintain its doctrine that homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching."

The nine-member Judicial Council ruled the denomination's book of laws does not contradict itself regarding the appointment of openly gay and lesbian clergy to congregations.

The panel said a Seattle minister's statement that she is "living in a partnered, covenanted homosexual relationship with another woman" is sufficient to review her status as a minister.

"If, in the course of such review, such person affirms that she is engaged in genital sexual activity with a person of the same gender, she would have openly acknowledged ... that she is a self-avowed practicing homosexual," the ruling said.

However, the council said a bishop cannot deny a ministerial appointment based solely on such a declaration. It affirmed established church procedures to ensure that a pastor gets a full hearing on whether he or she has broken church law and is therefore no longer a minister in good standing.

In the meantime, the bishop should suspend the minister and relieve the clergy member from ministerial duties while "proceedings are conducted to address the issues of character and conference relations according to fair and due process," the council said.

The council's rulings were in response to questions submitted by the denomination's Pacific Northwest Conference, which includes Washington and northern Idaho, after its local bishop denied ministerial appointments to three Seattle pastors who revealed their homosexuality.