A Love Letter to Our Church from Your LGBTQI Religious Leaders
May 9, 2016

Church known as General Conference, we, your Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and Intersex (LGBTQI) religious leaders–local pastors, deacons, elders, and candidates for ministry–want to remind you of our covenant with you.

We share with you the covenant of baptism which has knit us together as one family. You cradled us into the body of Christ, helped us know the grace that invites us to move more deeply into relationship with God, and invited us to listen for God’s call on our lives. We responded, finding that we were most faithful when we gave our lives over to full time Christian service. You embraced us, affirmed us, ordained us, and sent us to serve throughout the connection. 

However, while we have sought to remain faithful to our call and covenant, you have not always remained faithful to us. While you have welcomed us as pastors, youth leaders, district superintendents, bishops, professors, missionaries and other forms of religious service, you have required that we not bring our full selves to ministry, that we hide from view our sexual orientations and gender identities. As long as we did this, you gladly affirmed our gifts and graces and used us to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world in the varied places you sent us.

While some of us have been lucky to serve in places where we could serve honestly and openly, there are others in places far more hostile, who continue to serve faithfully even at tremendous cost to themselves, their families, and yes, even the communities they serve, who do not receive the fullness of their pastor’s gifts because a core part must remain hidden.

There are many voices within The United Methodist Church who want us to break up with them. From bishops, Boards of Ordained Ministries, and other leaders, we are told to simply leave. Is leaving home ever that simple? We are United Methodists because there is no other denomination with our unique connectional polity and distinctive Wesleyan spirituality. We are here because God has called us to serve in this denomination, and our souls are fed by the theology in which we’ve been raised.

We are coming out as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and Intersex persons at this moment for several reasons. Foremost, we want you to know we still love you and seek to remain in relationship with you. Even if we should leave and you seek more restrictive language against LGBTQI persons, know that God will continue to move mysteriously in the hearts of LGBTQI young people and adults and will call them to serve within this denomination.  You cannot legislate against God’s call. The “LGBTQI issue” is not one that can be resolved through restrictive legislation but instead by seeing that all persons are made in the image of God and welcomed into the community of faith.

We come out, too, to provide hope for LGBTQI young people in hostile UMC churches. These young people are more at risk for suicide than their peers, in part, because of the condemnation they hear from the pulpits and pews of their churches. We come out to remind them that God’s love for them is immeasurable, and offers them a love that will never let them go, even when it feels like the church is willing to let them go. 

We come out to invite them to listen for God’s still, small voice that will speak in the quiet places of their hearts, who will call them into leadership positions. We seek to create a pathway of hope into ministry for them, even when the church has tried to shut its doors on them, or overtly or indirectly condoned the persecution of LGBTQI persons.

We love you, dear church. Through you, we have stood on sacred ground and seen the face of God more clearly. Our prayer, as the church begins its time of discernment, is that you will remember that there are nameless ones around the world, hungry for a word of hope and healing. LGBTQI people and their families exist in every church in every continent of this denomination. They are seeking to remain in faithful relationship with you, even when you refuse, because they know God’s tender mercies and great faithfulness. 

Dear church, our prayers are with you, with all of us, in the coming days. May we all be surprised by the Spirit who continues to breathe new life in unexpected ways. May we find the body of Christ stronger at the end of our time together, not weaker or more deeply harmed. May we provide a powerful witness of finding unity even in our differences to a world fractured by fear and mistrust.

Signed,

Rev. Jeanelle Ablola
Rev. Brian Adkins
Rev. Austin Adkinson
Rev. Dr. Israel Alvaran
Pastor Elyse Ambrose
Rev. Douglas A. Asbury
Rev. Jeanne Audrey Powers
M Barclay
Rev. Dr Bonnie Beckonchrist
Rev. Ann Berney
Rev. Anna Blaedel
Rev. Daryl Blanksma
Rev Jan Bolerjack
Rev. Dr. Joanne Calrson Brown
Rev. Kristan M. Burkert
Rev. John Cahall
Rev. James C. Carter
Rev. Dr. Nancy A. Carter
Rev. Randa Jean D’Aoust
Rev. Alex da Silva-Souto
Rev. Karen Damman
Rev. Diana Jani Darak-Druck
Sean P. Delmore
Rev. Greg Eaton
Rev. Dr. Karen Engelman
Rev. Dr. Janet Everhart
Rev. Anthony M. Fatta
Rev. Robert Gamble
Micah Gary-Fryer
Rev. Ruth Ann Charlotte Geiger
Rev. John Girard
Rev. Rebecca J. Girrell
Taylor Gould
Rev. Nancy Jean Goyings
Rev. John Edwin Griffin
Rev. Gregory D. Gross
Rev. Dr. Emily B. Hall
Rev. Trey Hall
Rev. Dr. Edward J. Hansen
Rev. Marcia Hauer
Rev. Michael A. House
Rev. Brittany Isaac
Rev. Monica Isaac
Rev. Marguerite Jhonson
Tyler R. Joyner
Rev. Elizabeth Jones
Rev. Lindsey Kerr
Rev. Dr. Jeanne G. Knepper
Ms. Ellen Knight
Rev. Katie M. Ladd
Pastor Bruce Lamb
Rev. Cathlynn Law
Rev. Ardis Letey
Rev. J. Daniel Lewis
Rev. Dr. Pamela R. Lightsey
Pastor Christine Lindeberg
Pastor Rolland Loomis
Rev. Kelly Love
Rev. Dr. Joretta Marshall
Pastor Lea Matthews
Rev. Courtney McHill
Rev. Ralph A. Merante
Rev. David W. Meredith
Rev. Cynthia Meyer
Rev. Jerry Miller
Rev. Sharon L. Moe
Rev. Richard W. Moman
Rev. Deborah Morgan
Rachel Neer
Rev. Joshua M. Noblitt
Rev. Catherine Noellert
Rev. Gregory Norton
Rev. Dr. Karen P. Oliveto
Rev. Dr. Rebecca A. Parker
Rev. Lois McCullen Parr
Rev. Matthew A. Pearson
Rev. Drew Phoenix
Emily Pickens-Jones
Rev. Jay K. Pierce
Kendall Protzmann
Pastor Kathleen Reynolds
Pastor Jonathan E. Rodríguez-Cintrón
Rev. Daniel Sailer
Rev. Siobhan A. Sargent
Kenneth M. Schoon
Rev. Tyler Schwaller
Kimberly Scott
Pastor Ryan J. Scott
Rev. Patricia Simpson
Rev. Kim A. Smith
Rev. Althea Spencer Miller
Rev. Terri J. Stewart
Rev. Katie Stickney
Rev. Kristin G. Stoneking
Rev. Mark F. Sturgess
Rev. Sara Thompson Tweedy
Rev. Frank E. Trotter, Jr.
Rev. Martha E. Vink
Rev. Kathleen Weber
Rev. Dr. David Weekley
Marvin K. White
Rev. Dr. Mark E. Williams
Rev. Brenda S. Wills
Pastor Jarell Wilson
Rev. Angela G. Wolle
Rev. John Robert Wooden
Rev. Vicki L. Woods
Rev. Wendy Woodworth
Rev. Frank D. Wulf
Rev. Laura Young
Rev. Nancy Kay Yount

…

Editor’s Note: After the original 111 LGBTQI clergy and candidates released this letter on Monday, May 9th, the following names were additional signers to the list totaling 213 (including our Hidden Faithful Siblings).

Rev. Ann Hunt
Rev. Jonathan Bailey
Rev. Dr. Jennifer Tiernan
Nicole Graham
Rev. Dr. Kathleen Greider
Rev. Thomas Boller
Rev. Adrienne Trevathan
Rev. Dr. David Jenkins
Rev C Johns
Rev. Janet Hanson
Rev. Charles Straight
Rev. Arlene Dawber
Rev. Will Ed Green
Rev. Andrew Williams
Rev. Betty Howard
Rev. Sany Gess
Rev. Judith WestLee
Rev. Dr. James Dwyer
Peter Jabin, Diaconal Minister
Pastor Vilma J. Cruz-Báez
Rev. Vivian Waltz
Rev. Jay Williams
Rev. Renae Extrum-Fernandez
Adam Marshall
Rev. Tony Brown
Rev. Dr. Nicholas S. Mitrovich
Rev. Nea Lewis
Rev. Britt Cox
Rev. Jeffrey S. Mullinix
Rev. Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger
Rev. Ronna Case

Trust Hilton
Mrs. Caroline Anne Morrison
Rev. DeAnn Janine Dobbs
Rev. Ryan Scott
Ms. Sonya Davis
Joshua Beach
Rev. Matthew A. Laferty
Rev. Timothy Koblerr
Rev. Angela Flanagan
Angel Rivero
Chad Ewing
Rev. Gregory Neal
Mr. Phillip Valdes
Rev. Diane Kenaston
Pastor Steven Coles
Pastor Dani Levine
Rev. Julie Wilson
Rev. Sharon Langfeldt
Rev. Hillary Taylor
Rev. Elizabeth Brick
Rev. Sue Laurie
Rev. Kevin Kim Wright
Mx. Keegan (KT) Grace
Rev. Kevin Wright
 

Editor’s Note: below you find the alphabetical list as of February 19 we are currently over 263 members (including 31 Hidden Faithful Siblings).

Rev. Jeanelle Ablola
Rev. Brian Adkins
Rev. Austin Adkinson
Ms Susanna Adlem
Tre Allen
Rev. Dr.  Israel  Alvaran
Rev. Elyse Ambrose (no longer serving as a pastor in the UMC)
Mr  John  Angermayr
Rev. Megan M. Armstrong
Rev. Douglas A. Asbury
Rev. Jeanne Audrey Powers
Rev. M Barclay
Denyse Barnes
Joshua Beach
Rev. Dr. Bonnie Beckonchrist
Rev. Ann Berney
Rev. Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger
Rev. Anna Blaedel
Rev. Daryl Blanksma
Megan Blizzard

Rev. Jan Bolerjack

Rev. Thomas Boller 

Rev. Hannah Adair Bonner

Rev. Lauren Boyd

Rev. Elizabeth  Brick

  Angela Brown

Rev. Dr. Joanne Carlson Brown

Rev. Tony Brown

Rev. Kristan M. Burkert

Rev. John  Cahall

Rev. Thomas Carney

Rev. Dr. Nancy A. Carter

Rev. James C. Carter

Rev. Ronna Case

Pastor Steven Coles

Rev. Karen Cook

Rev. Britt Cox

Angie Cox

Pastor Vilma Cruz-Báez

Rev. Randa Jean D'Aoust

Rev. Alex  da Silva-Souto

Rev Karen Dammann

Rev. Diana Jani Darak-Druck

Ms. Sonya Davis

Rev. Arlene Dawber

Rev. Sean P. Delmore

Rev. Amy DeLong

Rev. Daniel Diss

Rev. DeAnn Janine Dobbs

Rev. Dr. James Dwyer

Rev. Greg Eaton

Rev. Dr.  Karen Engelman

Elizabeth Evans

Rev. Dr.  Janet  Everhart

Chad Ewing

Rev. Renae Extrum-Fernadez

Rev. Anthony M. Fatta

Rev. Angela Flanagan 

Pastor Alexis Francisco

Rev. Rock Fremont

Rev. Margo Exline Friend

Rev. Robert Gamble

Sara Garrard

Micah Gary-Fryer

Rev. Ruth Ann Charlotte Geiger

Rev. Nestor Gerente

Rev. Sandy  Gess

Pastor Dana Gill Port

Rev. John Girard

Rev. Rebecca J. Girrell

Rev. Elizabeth Gonda

Taylor Gould

Rev. Nancy Jean Goyings

Mx. Keegan (KT) Grace

Nicole Graham

Jane Graner

Rev. Will Ed Green

Pastor Kaiyra Greer

Rev. Dr. Kathleen Greider

Rev. John Edwin Griffin-Atil

Rev. Gregory D. Gross

Rev. Dr. Emily B. Hall

Rev. Trey Hall

Pastor Winter Hamilton

Caiti Hamilton

Rev. Dr.  Edward J. Hansen

Kristina Hansen

Rev. Janet Hanson

Rev. Marcia  Hauer

Pastor  Ashley  Hawkins

Rev. Joey  Heath-Mason

Angela Heesacker

Mr. Rob Herrmann

Dr. Taelor Hickey

Minister Kevin Highfield

Trust Hilton

Reverend Melinda Holloway

Rev. Michael A. House

Rev. Betty  Howard

Ann Hunt, Retired Elder

Rev. Brittany  Isaac

Rev. Monica  Isaac

Diaconal Minister Peter Jabin

Rev Elizabeth M. Jackson

Rev. Dr. Valerie L Jackson 

Rev. Dr.  David Jenkins

Rev. Marguerite Jhonson

Rev. Catherine Michele Johns 

Jacey Johnson

Rev. Elizabeth Jones

Rev. Diane Kenaston

Rev. Lindsey Kerr

Mr. Rushing Kimball

Mary Klaehn

Pastor Bob Klein

Rev. Dr. Jeanne G. Knepper

Ms. Ellen Knight

Rev. Angie Kotzmoyer

Rev. Katie M. Ladd

Pastor Bruce Lamb

Rev. Sharon Langfeldt

Rev. Sue Laurie

Rev. Cathlynn Law

Rev. Ardis Letey

Pastor Daniel Elliot Levine

Samantha Lewis

Rev. J. Daniel  Lewis

Rev. Dr.  Pamela R. Lightsey

Pastor Christine Lindeberg

Pastor Christopher J. Logan

Rev. Rolland Loomis

Rev. Kelly Love

Pastor Dion Marquit

Rev. Dr. Joretta Marshall

Adam Marshall 

Retired Pastor Thomas Martin

Rev. Lea Matthews

Rev. Lois McCullen Parr

Rev. Courtney McHill

Alex Patching McNeil

Rev. Sean McRoberts

Rev. Ralph A. Merante

Rev. David W. Meredith

Pastor Kathleen Meyerson

Rev. Jerry  Miller

Katelyn Miller

David H.  Miron

Rev. Dr. Nicholas Mitrovich

Rose Mitts

Rev. Sharon L. Moe

Rev. Richard W. Moman

Rev. Deborah Morgan

Pastor Caroline Anne Morrison

T.C. Morrow

Brad Motta

Rev. Jeffrey Mullinix

Rev.  Rachel Neer

Minister Kipp Nelson

Rev. Joshua M. Noblitt

Rev. Catherine Noellert

Rev. Gregory Norton

Rev. Dr. Karen P. Oliveto

Rev. Dr. Rebecca A. Parker

Rev. Michael  Patzloff

Rev. Matthew A. Pearson

Dan Pettit

Rev. Drew  Phoenix

Emily Pickens-Jones

Rev. Jay K Pierce

Kendall Protzmann

Pastor José Marvel Queiroz de Souza

Rev. Amanda Gayle Reed

Pastor Kathleen Reynolds

Angel Rivero 

Pastor Jonathan E. Rodríguez-Cintrón

Rev. Maggie Roe

Gregory Rogers

The Rev Patricia Ross

Rev. Daniel  Sailer

Rev. Siobhan A. Sargent

Kenneth M. Schoon

Rev. Tyler  Schwaller

Rev. Kimberly  Scott

Rev. Ryan J. Scott

Rev. Becky Sechrist

JoAnne Sharp

Rev. Patricia  Simpson

Rev. Kim A. Smith

Rev. Dr. Althea Spencer Miller

Rev. Laura Steed

Rev. Nea Stepp

Rev. Terri J. Stewart

Rev. Katie  Stickney

Rev. Kristin G. Stoneking

Rev. Charles Straight

Rev. Mark F. Sturgess

Rev. Alyss Swanson

Grant Swanson

Rev. Mark Thompson  

Rev. Sara  Thompson Tweedy

Rev. Ronald Tompkins

Rev. Adrienne Trevathan

Rev. Frank E. Trotter, Jr.

Mr. Phillip Valdes

Joan VanDessel

Rev. Martha E. Vink

Anna Voinovich

Rev. Vivian Waltz

Joshua Warner

J.J. Warren

Walker Weatherly

Rev. Kathleen Weber

Rev. Dr. David Weekley

Rev. Dr. Traci West

Rev. Judith WestLee

Jennifer Anne Weyenberg

Rev. Jay Williams

Rev. Dr. Mark E. Williams

Rev. Brenda S. Wills

Pastor Jarell Wilson

Rev. Angela G. Wolle

Rev. John Robert Wooden

Rev. Vicki L. Woods

Rev. Wendy Woodworth

Rev. Kevin Wright

Rev. Frank D. Wulf

Rev. Laura Young

Rev. Nancy Kay Yount

#####

ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE from 2016:

111 LGBTQI UNITED METHODIST CLERGY COME OUT

CONTACT:

M. Barclay, 773.930.7040

Rev. Dr. Israel Alvaran, 510.717.4894

Rev. Gregory Gross, 847.989.1656                                              

Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto, 415.336.4007

On the eve of the 10 day General Conference of The United Methodist Church, more than 100 lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer/questioning, transgender and intersex (LGBTQI) clergy and clergy candidates have come out. In a pastoral letter to the church, the group reminded the legislative body of the covenant they share as baptized members of the Body of Christ and as clergy who have been affirmed as possessing the gifts and graces for ministry and who have served their charges faithfully.

“However, while we have sought to remain faithful to our call and covenant, you have not always remained faithful to us,” the letter explained. “While you have welcomed us as pastors, youth leaders, district superintendents, bishops, professors, missionaries and other forms of religious service, you have required that we not bring our full selves to ministry, that we hide from view our sexual orientations and gender identities. As long as we did this, you gladly affirmed our gifts and graces and used us to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world in the varied places you sent us.”

Since 1972, The UMC has declared in its Book of Discipline that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching.” Through successive General Conferences, the church has increased its discriminatory policies by adding more restrictions against the participation of LGBTQI persons in the life and ministry of the church—including ordination, marriage, and even membership--at a pastor’s discretion--membership in a local church, as well as a ban on use of funds that can further the church’s understanding of homosexuality.

Through the letter, the group reminded voting delegates that should they seek “more restrictive language against LGBTQI persons, know that God will continue to move mysteriously in the hearts of LGBTQI young people and adults and will call them to serve within this denomination. You cannot legislate against God’s call.”

The 104 clergy and candidates follow the actions of 15 clergy colleagues in the New York Annual Conference, who came out on May 2, 2016. The signers come from across the connectional church, including more than 20 annual conferences within The United States as well as outside the US. “As a person from a Central Conference,” said Rev. Israel Alvaran, from the Philippines, “I stand as a witness that our cause against the church’s discrimination of LGBTQI persons is not a white, or US, or Western Jurisdiction ‘issue’.  I know we have LGBTQI believers in our churches in the Philippines and in every place where we serve around the globe.”

“The discriminatory policies and harmful language of The Book of Discipline does soul violence,” said Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto, senior pastor of the 11,000 member Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco, one of the denomination’s largest churches. “We who are LGBTQI clergy are saying we refuse to be complicit with the church’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy. We will speak the truth of our lives. We will give hope to young people who feel the church’s rejection. We will do all we can to remind The United Methodist Church that LGBTQI persons are beloved children of God.”