Need info on Gay-Friendly Divinity Schools

[Drucifer]

As a child, I believed that I had a calling on my life, to write, preach and teach, but I felt that being "gay" denied me. Now, at 43, I am thinking that maybe I am not the outcast that I thought I was. So, if you know of good divinity schools for a seeker of truth (from whatever source it comes) that doesn't force a certain doctrine or dogma on a person, I would love to know about them.

[jillvee]

Duke University Divinity and Shaw University Divinity have trained people who go to my MCC church (who also happen to be gay), and they haven't expressed any issues with anybody forcing anything on them.

[bnmoore]

Our ideology offers a Master's program. You pretty much need to be down with everything. Here's a link to the curriculum:

http://www.unitedcentersforspiritual...es/program.php

[revcobb]

The University of Chicago Divinity School would be another good option. Just don't be surprised by the cold and long winters.

[Gennee]

Originally Posted by revcobb

The University of Chicago Divinity School would be another good option. Just don't be surprised by the cold and long winters.

I spend three days in Chicago in the winter. BRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!


Gennee

[drobs]

Any of the major state divinity schools should be fine. Northwestern U's grad school Garret in Evanston IL would be another one to look at. Expensive though.

My grandpa taught there in the 60's and 70's. My sister graduated from NU.

[NathanATX]

Check out:

• Pacific School of Religion at the Graduate Theological Union of Berkeley, CA
• Austin Presbyterian in Austin, TX
• Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX
• Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA

[Pablo Rafael]

Another place that would be good to explore if you haven't already is right in your area:
Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley.
(No cold winters in the San Francisco Bay area either.) http://cdsp.edu

[Daniel]

It is also the region and church affiliation you will have after you are out of school. Say you are Episcopalian: you will want to know if the Bishop in your area will help you find a church. Or if he/she is not supportive. As the saying goes: all politics is local.

[bnmoore]

Originally Posted by Daniel

It is also the region and church affiliation you will have after you are out of school.

Some do go independent and succeed. In New Thought it seems to break down to how much Jesus you want with your metaphysics. One of our most well known ministers went independent but is still around and deeply involved. I saw him at work one morning and later that same morning at our center. His wife and he were on their way to Washington for the inauguration last January.

Whether anyone else respects your credentials, I can't say.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by bnmoore

Some do go independent and succeed. In New Thought it seems to break down to how much Jesus you want with your metaphysics. One of our most well known ministers went independent but is still around and deeply involved. I saw him at work one morning and later that same morning at our center. His wife and he were on their way to Washington for the inauguration last January.

Whether anyone else respects your credentials, I can't say.

What I hear you saying is that personal charisma is vital in order to succeed if one does not toe the doctrinal line within a denomination. Makes sense to me.

The minister you refer to is straight. Can a single or partnered gay man do this? Being married is another kind of credential, is it not? Seems to me that the bar could be set somewhat higher for gay people.

[bnmoore]

Originally Posted by Daniel

What I hear you saying is that personal charisma is vital in order to succeed if one does not toe the doctrinal line within a denomination. Makes sense to me.

What did I say that could be interpreted that way? To what doctrinal line are ou referring? If you got one from it I mis-spoke. I feel that would depend on whether a denomination is about a messenger or a message. If a speaker is boring they would lose the audience.

The minister you refer to is straight. Can a single or partnered gay man do this? Being married is another kind of credential, is it not? Seems to me that the bar could be set somewhat higher for gay people.

The man that started the church in NYC in 1946 was gay and not closeted at all. The man that started ours in Atlanta in 1979 was gay also. His partner was on the platform with him playing the piano and singing. Our doors have always been open to the disenfranchised. (whether it's real or imaginary)

FWIW books written by all of the above are used in classwork world wide. I suppose I shoud mention that classes are not required. Personally I want a license. It doesn't have to mean anything to anyone but me.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by bnmoore

What did I say that could be interpreted that way? To what doctrinal line are ou referring? If you got one from it I mis-spoke. I feel that would depend on whether a denomination is about a messenger or a message. If a speaker is boring they would lose the audience.


The man that started the church in NYC in 1946 was gay and not closeted at all. The man that started ours in Atlanta in 1979 was gay also. His partner was on the platform with him playing the piano and singing. Our doors have always been open to the disenfranchised. (whether it's real or imaginary)

FWIW books written by all of the above are used in classwork world wide. I suppose I shoud mention that classes are not required. Personally I want a license. It doesn't have to mean anything to anyone but me.

1) you didn't say anything. I read between the lines..

2) perhaps I am not clued into your world. My perception is that the mainline denominations are still not very eager to ordain openly gay people. But perhaps this my perception is from the past.

3) I meant no criticism of your church. What I was addressing was this: the big denominations tend to be conservative, so finding a school and a congregation to serve isn't an easy matter. I am assuming that the original poster on this thread will want to avoid them. And seeing that the smaller denominations have less places to 'work', one has to choose carefully (I would think).

[bnmoore]

Originally Posted by Daniel

2) perhaps I am not clued into your world. My perception is that the mainline denominations are still not very eager to ordain openly gay people. But perhaps this my perception is from the past.

From the restrictions that are being placed on gay clergy by the ones that do accept them I'd have to agree with you.

3) I meant no criticism of your church. What I was addressing was this: the big denominations tend to be conservative, so finding a school and a congregation to serve isn't an easy matter. I am assuming that the original poster on this thread will want to avoid them. And seeing that the smaller denominations have less places to 'work', one has to choose carefully (I would think).

We've been referred to as commie liberals and satan's lie. Maybe I'm a little defensive. At the same time I find the "How to Debunk" web sites funny.

I guess we're a bunch of dirty little universalists that think globalists are pussies.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by bnmoore

We've been referred to as commie liberals and satan's lie. Maybe I'm a little defensive. At the same time I find the "How to Debunk" web sites funny.

I guess we're a bunch of dirty little universalists that think globalists are pussies.

Once a Universalist, always a Universalist. Count me in! I was reading A Wrinkle in Time when I was At Evangel College (why it's called university now is beyond me). The author, Madeleine L'Engle visited the school (think I wrote about this on another thread) and was roundly criticized for the Universalism in her book. I loved it then and love it now. Which is why I am prone to think in my more sardonic moments that 'hell is other people'- a saying by Satre- who brought us the play No Exit.


I have one other L'Engle story.

I didn't meet her at Evangel, but rather, after an Evensong that I had sung at St. John the Divine. She was there, up in the choir after the service, and I got up my nerve to say hello. And she flirted with me while ensconced in her wheelchair. Vital to the end.

Universalism Rules!

And so does good storytelling like that of Madame L'Engle.

[belleview]

Another suggestion is Iliff School of Theology in Denver, CO.

[SolApollo]

I'm not certain of the specific locations (Chicago, IL most likely), but the United Church of Christ has ordained GLBT ministers since the late 70s. The link www.ucc.org should provide you some info if interested in pursuing that route. My local church actually has an ordained lesbian minister that now leads a church in Cleveland, but she visits my local church occasionally. Hope this is helpful.

[koneill08]

Originally Posted by Drucifer

As a child, I believed that I had a calling on my life, to write, preach and teach, but I felt that being "gay" denied me. Now, at 43, I am thinking that maybe I am not the outcast that I thought I was. So, if you know of good divinity schools for a seeker of truth (from whatever source it comes) that doesn't force a certain doctrine or dogma on a person, I would love to know about them.

Drucifer, Have you found a school to pursue yet? I was introduced to a set of books that might be enlightening to you regarding how hard you want to pursue ordination within the church "structure" - no matter which Christian denomination you want to follow. How much do you like playing politics? If you don't like it, know this, there is as much (if not more) political positioning within the organized church than in our local community and state governments. I know this by personal experience. I won't give the names of the books, so as to not offend anyone reading this thread who doesn't follow christianity, but I will give the author's name and you can track down his books to read if you like.

I'm not at all discouraging you from pursuing your call. I also believe I have one to preach, teach and share as well. However, I'm feeling stuck because there is something not "alive" in the organized church (generally speaking) we currently have deeply rooted and established in our US culture now. I disagree with many of the "requirements" that are placed on either ordination or membership within many of our christian denominations today. And because of that I feel I can't pursue my call in the traditional pathway as so many others have gone. The name of the Author is Frank Viola. He co-wrote his first book with Frank Barna. Frank Barna is a well know statistician for christianity, churches etc. Many of the statistics you see about church growth or rather now, the startling statistics of how many are leaving the church comes from his organization, the Barna Research Group.

In any event, Just a different slant for resources for you in establishing your certainty to pursue your call in this way. Take it or leave it!

I wish you well on your path!