ju s« o tri ▼ July 1. i 0 0 3 ▼ 7
Portland congregation -
seeks lesbian pastor
Members of Metanoia Peace Community
United Methodist Church have announced their
intention to hire a lesbian as their co-pastor, in
disregard of the denomination’s official policy
regarding sexual-minority clergy. The congrega
tion is seeking an ordained clergywoman who,
along with her regular pastoral duties, can help
guide a new ministry of the congregation called
“Partners in Reconciliation.”
The new pro
gram is designed to
address the overt
and hidden homo
phobia that has
made a large seg
ment of the popula
tion vulnerable to
the appeal of dis
criminatory initia
tives such as Ballot Measure 9. The program will
also demonstrate ways in which persons can learn
to appreciate, not fear, the varieties of human
sexual expression that members of the congrega
tion regard as “God’s good gifts.”
The decision to hire a lesbian came after it was
learned that Bishop William Dew of Portland was
not willing to supply an ordained sexual-minority
co-pastor to the congregation through the regular
appointment process. The bishop cited a provi
sion in the denomination’s Book o f Discipline
which says that “avowed practicing homosexu
als” shall not be ordained or appointed. Members
of Metanoia Peace Community had previously
urged the bishop to appoint a sexual-minority
person as an act of conscientious civil disobedi
ence that would challenge the church to change a
policy which the Metanoia congregation regards
as un-Christian and unjust.
The present pastor, John Schwiebert, who will
be sharing leadership with the new co-pastor, said
he welcomes the decision to hire a sexual-
minority person in the newly created position.
“Because we have publicly declared our intention
to welcome gay men, lesbians and bisexual per
son as full participants in the life of our congrega
tion, it is appropriate that the ordained leadership
of this congregation also be designated without
regard to sexual orientation,” he said.
He noted that a committee of church members
is in touch with several qualified persons who
have expressed an interest in the position. Among
those who have inquired is a woman who is
presently serving as pastor of another United
Methodist congregation and who is no longer
TWENTY-THIRD AVENUE
BOC
) • ]
K-Í
willing to hide the truth about her sexual orienta
tion in order to keep her present position.
The Metanoia congregation hopes to have the
new position filled no later than Sept. 1. Mem
bers have launched a fund-raising campaign to
cover the costs of the expanded program.
Metanoia Peace Community, which is head
quartered at the Northeast 18th Avenue Peace
House, is a congregation known for its emphasis
on community building, hospitality, peace-and-
justice advocacy and ministry with bereaved per
sons. It is one of 62 United Methodist congrega
tions nationwide and five in the state of Oregon
that publicly welcome and include gay men, les
bians and bisexual persons in their congregational
life and ministry.
MCC invites nominee
The Metropolitan Community Church of Port
land has settled on a nominee after a seven-month
search process. The Rev. Dennis Chappell has
been invited to MCC as a candidate for the senior
pastor position, which has been open since’the
Rev. Gary Wilson resigned in December. Chappell
is currently the director of AIDS ministry at MCC
in San Diego. Since graduating from Wartburg
Lutheran College he has served in a ministerial
capacity for 13 years.
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