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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 2001)
September 7. 2001 r¡TíTTTTTW3TJneu;s MiTD B on V oyage Metropolitan Community Church pastor sets sail on another adventure M & M BALLOON CO. by Jim Radosta he Rev. Roy A. Cole, who has served as Metropolitan Com m unity C hurch of Portland pastor since the fall of 1994, announced his resignation during his morning ser mon Aug. 12. He plans to pursue a sec ond doctorate and leadership roles as a teacher, writer and consultant. Cole, 45, was horn in San Diego and grew up along the West Coast. He graduated from Portland’s W arner Pacific College in 1983. He has been a pastor for 17 years, 11 of those with the Universal Fellow ship of M etropolitan Com m unity Churches. He returned to Portland in 1994 after a stint in Reno, Nev. Cole started a doctorate of ministry program two years ago and conducted his residency this summer at San Fran cisco Theological Seminary. His em ployment contract with the church was expiring at the end of 2001, so he had to make a crucial decision about whether he was prepared to renew it for the next three to five years. Cole says he made the decision to resign after professors encouraged him to devote his full-time energy to future A fter the Rev. Roy A. Cole completes his doctorate of career goals. In January he will head to ministry program, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in theology General Theological Seminary in New York to complete his dissertation. that’s relevant to the greater community,” he says. “I greatly love pastoring, and pastoring the However, Cole remains humble in discussing M CC here in Portland has been a joy and a phe his achievements. He says most of it couldn’t nomenal experience for me,” he says. “But I’ve have been possible if Portland wasn’t such a pro always had an attraction for academics.” gressive place. In the fall of 2002 Cole plans to apply for a “It wasn’t so much that I brought any great Ph.D. in theology at University of Oxford. He skills to the ministry,” he says. “O ne of the great eventually hopes to teach at the university or gifts to the ministry was the very positive sup seminary level and get published in the fields of port from...city leaders.” theology and ethics. The board will conduct a national search dur Cole leaves with a great deal of accomplish ing the next six to 18 months to find a suitable ments under his belt. He is given much of the replacement for Cole. Portland is one of the credit for increasing the congregation from 55 denomination’s top 20 churches in size and members to almost 300 and making it the leading resources, so he is certain many talented people gay and lesbian church in the Pacific Northwest. will he interested in the position. About a year ago M CC “Losing Pastor Cole will hx>k the reins of Esther’s "Pastoring the MCC here be a sad time for us,” says Pantry, which .provides fcxxl A nna Brouns, board of direc in Portland has been tors vice moderator. “It will and personal sundries for people living with AIDS. In a joy and a phenomenal also be a time of excitement addition, the church facili and challenge and allow our experience for me. ties have been renovated church family to see how we and serve as a venue for want our ministry to work and But I've always had an community meetings. face the future as a vital part Last year M C C was of the Portland community.” attraction for academics. accepted into Ecum eni Former vice moderator cal M inistries o f O regon, Dave Dishman has been with M CC Portland for 21 1/2 of its an asso ciatio n o f 17 C h ristian d en om inations across th e state 25 years. He has nothing but good things to say th a t work together for unity and justice. about Cole. “W e’ve been blessed with seven years of his Executive director David Leslie says C o le ’s leadership brought a lot of more conserva leadership, and we will be sad to see him go tive churches around. and wish him the very best with his future “Many of our member denominations have plans,” Dishman says. “H e’s been a wonderful changed their understanding about how they pastor to us.” can be a catalyst for community building,” he Cole will deliver his final sermon Oct. 14, says. “People came to respect Roy because he the Sunday after O ut on Broadway, a fund-rais was willing to listen to both the positives and er celebrating National Coming O ut Day. The the negatives and to foster dialogue.” event also will include a special farewell tribute But Cole is most proud of seeing the church to the outgoing pastor. JT1 attain greater acceptance during his seven-year tenure. “The thing that I leave with the greatest O u t o n B roadway will be held 7 p m. O c t. 11 at the World Trade Center Theater, 121 S.W . sense of accomplishment is that the congregation has been able to grow in its ministries and its role Salmon St. For more information visit the Internet within the gay and lesbian community in a way site www.outonbroadway .com. T — Roy Cole Scappoose & St. Helens Premier Real Estate Resource Country living only 20 minutes from downtown Portland. 3dhn i.Scott | [nj REAL ESTATE . -SÜSST Let M & M Balloon C o. help m ake your event everything you im agine. www. prop shop, com ♦ 503.283.2180 www.columbiacountyhome.com jenniferpugsley@johnlscott.com 503-543-3751 (o) 503-313-8130 (c) r It's time to think about retirement © t ’s never too early (or too late) to plan for a successful retirement. 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