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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 6, 2007)
northwest For All the Saints MCC beatifies holy gays by Patricia L. MacAodha saint has historically been defined as “a holy or godly person.” What does that mean in terms of a revolutionary church that conservative Christians would consider neither holy nor godly ? As Metropolitan Community Church of Portland prepares itself to call a new senior pastor, the transi tion team has plunged into a process of recalling its past, as a means of informing the future. During the Lenten season, MCC of Portland has been honoring the memories of “people who made significant contributions through work and engaged ministry,” says the Rev. Ron LaRocque. The list includes both laity and clergy. All are deceased. The Rev. A. Austin Amerine, Jimmy Bryan, José Montoya, Harriet Barshovsky, Fran Hamilton and Amani Jabari were the selected former members. Three of these were clergy members, and three were laity. All were leaders in creating a solid church—not just a building, but an enduring congregation. Each week during Lent, the memory of one of these deceased members is being honored during the worship service—an effort to understand what they gave of themselves. LaRocque says it’s more than kxiking at how each “expounded their beliefs, but how they lived their lives in faith. Sometimes,” he adds, “people who have given so much are for gotten. Their stories fade.” Not so in this church. Chuck Harvey, former district coordinator and MCC of Portland member, describes the memorial sequence. “It comes after the invocation and right before the Scripture readings.” Each speaker intro duces the saint, speaks of memorable points about The contributions made by the Rev. A. Austin Amerine (left) and José Montoya were not forgotten by the MCC of Portland congregation. her or his commitment to MCC and lights a can dle. The embarrassing habits of each person are also turned it over and read the message, “It’s all right.” Amerine loved music, says Dishman, and “played mentioned, to remind the congregation that these In MCC of Portland, Montoya served as a dea a mean piano.” He served the Portland church were humans and that they made the contributions con, helping people in hardship, serving communion from 1976 to 1979, leaving to become the first in spite of their weaknesses, and often because of and performing related tasks. He was also a member coordinator of the enormous Northwest district, them. of the congregation’s board of directors. The Rev. which includes churches from Alaska to Hawaii “1 believe the saints candle is a practical way to Frodo Okulam remembers, “He had a way of and from northern California to Reno, Nev. remind each of us that we are the arms and legs of making things happen.” Montoya died after a long As Amerine was MCC of Portland’s first official Christ to continue God’s work on earth,” Harvey battle with AIDS. Member Dave Dishman recalls pastor, the local church was also his last assign says. Different presenters have brought mementos of Montoya as “a wonderful, caring and kind person ment. In fact, he had already retired when the each honoree: photos, T-shirts indicative of one’s with a great sense of humor.” Portland congregation called him back to fill an ministry and, in the case of Montoya, his vestments. Amerine was known for “planting” churches. empty pulpit as its interim pastor for a four-month Montoya had planned to become a Catholic The founding pastor of the Portland church, he also period. The Rev. Roy Cole later filled the pulpit, priest. His parents became ill while he was in train started MCCs in Salem, Corvallis and San Francisco and Amerine went into a well-deserved, but never ing for the priesthood. At the same time, he real as well as Spokane, Bellevue and Tri-Cities, Wash. complete, retirement. He frequently re-emerged to ized that he was a gay man and that his priestly Known for his musical talents and inspired preach attend events and even preach, until his death in dream would never be fulfilled. In fact, Montoya ing, Amerine had a humorous side. He nicknamed 1998. Harvey recalls a favorite Amerine quote: wasn’t sure of his next step. A devotee of Our Lady everything. Dishman recalls, “His treasured white “We are called to comfort the disturbed and disturb of Guadalupe, he visited the basilica in Mexico and Mercedes was ‘Snowflake.’ His cane was ‘Mabel.’ His the comfortable.” Few would deny that Amerine prayed for an answer: Could he be gay and serve apartment was ‘D-4.’ ” accomplished that goal many times over. the creator he believed in? He knelt in front of the MCC of Portland member Betty Nelson says, Guadalupe statue and prayed for an answer. “I’ll always remember his glasses pushed up on his P atricia L. M ac A odha is a Portland freelance Looking down on the floor, he saw a button. He forehead, and his watch in hand as he preached.” writer. E-mail her at patmac3l@juno.ann. 7 7 AUTOMOTIVE Portland Area Business Association Business People Serious About Success! Your Portland GLBT Chamber of Commerce Everyone is Welcome to Join Us For... 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