Gay ministers come out, risk defrocking

[schoolboi]

Gay ministers come out, risk defrocking (http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?2006/04/19/2)

What courage! What s/heroes! I am grateful for their witness!

[Liberal Crozier]

Yes, Cory, it is me. Let me first begin by thanking you for your continual prayers. The lymphoma is aggressive and not indolent. It means that we are facing a very difficult struggle as a family. We are facing it with faith, hope and love....the cardinal virtues we need in abundance.

First of all, priests and ministers are called....as in vocare....vocation. Yes, there are "ecclesiastic mechanics" who choose themselves. The era of the televangelist has made that reality all too evident. They define themselves as theocon politicians and real estate magnates with leer jets before they define themselves as pastors. Their "supporters" send a huge percentage of meagre earnings and social security cheques to them instead of the man or woman who baptizes or christens their children, marries their relations, and who buries their loved ones.

The structured mainline denominations - regardless of whom we are discussing - are hierarchical and are often led by a few "leaders" at the top of the food chain. Often, their "theology" is coloured by a few lay leaders who wish to enshrine their prejudices and homophobic bigotry at the expense of their substantial financial, political and social support.

If you are a gay or gay-affirming clergyperson, with an opposite or same-sex relationship, with or without a direct advocacy, you risk your livelihood and career. Many such individuals have only the requisite graduate degree in divinity or theology that does not easily translate into a secular career without returning to graduate school for more advanced work. At thirty or early fourty, that is easier than fifty or ouch, sixty.

Cory, your generation will begin by accepting ordination in a denomination that is gay-affirming. Your witness will mirror the lives of opposite-sex married and committed clergy families whom you admire. You will also witness that reality in same-sex coupled families in your faith community.

The Pharisees will witness to their white sepulchred definition. After all, it was Christ Himself who so defined them.

[bishopalkhaliq]

Hello everyone...

I must agree! You should definitely find a ministerial organization that will ordain you and validate you regardless to who you are!

I know of such an organization http://www.loveisforeverybody.org

Yes this is a little bit of promotion but it's based upon truth and authenticity and not on what other people are doing!

I believe that people need to be ordained and trained for the vocation of ministry, preaching and teaching the gospel message! I was and I am thankful to a man who had a vision (even if he had to do it "behind" everyone's back because he looked past what was on the outside and saw the anointing that lay inside of me)!

Because of that, he's given me a reason to help those who would simply like to live and be in ministry!

Please email me!

Akilah

[BruceChris]

Well, in Minnesota here we have something called the Stoles Project. Stoles have been donated by gay ministers/pastors/priests who have been defrocked, come out, or are still in the closet. They have almost 300 at last count. They are shown at GLBT events, fundraisers, and protests.

P&L, Chris

[HarmlessEccentric]

A clarification from a United Methodist:

The letter from the gay UMC ministers is thoughtful, simple, and encouraging.

But they have not 'come out.' They have added their names to the statement, and the list of names is in the keeping of a lawyer, but they are still closeted. One of them could be your minister, even.

Well, unless you aren't a Methodist. Then, not so much.

I recommend the letter- it refers to Methodist-specific rulings but most of it is relevent to all churches that don't permit full participation for gay Christians.