|
At Hearts on Fire, Lutherans Concerned / North America will launch a Ministerium for LGBT clergy, ministers, seminarians, and would-be ministers from all rosters of the Lutheran communion. LGBT ministers, both lay and ordained, rostered and non-rostered, out, partially out, closeted, active, retired, resigned, or removed from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM), Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) and independent Lutheran churches are invited to attend.
The idea for the LGBT Ministerium came from conversations among ELCA, ELCIC, ELM, rostered, un-rostered, removed, retired, and resigned ministers who participated in the devotional booklet, "A Place Within My Walls," and attended the ELCA Churchwide Assembly (CWA07) last summer. Out of the historic introduction of 82 LGBT ministers to the ELCA came a wonderful and respectful dialogue between colleagues. Participants encouraged additional gatherings to continue the conversation.
Since CWA07, a number of ELCA pastors have been outed or have chosen to come out. In addition many LGBT seminarians and seminary interns are moving through candidacy processes in the ELCA, ELM, and ELCIC. As we find our way through this chapter of the movement for full participation, it is critical that we provide places and times for mutual support and mentoring.
The ministerium gathering will be held as a pre-event to Hearts on Fire, on July 2–3 at San Francisco State, and is being planned by Pastors Anita Hill (ELM) and Brad Froslee (ELCA). The retreat-style gathering will include worship, large and small group conversations, and affinity group sessions. Probable topics of conversation include: building a network of support; finding a place: to worship, to serve, to be; preaching the liberating word; called to serve: for seminarians and those considering ministry; coming out to congregations; gender identity and expression in ministry; out, proud and serving — what's next.
Sanctuary and confidentiality will be integral to this ministerium.
If you are LGBT and rostered, un-rostered, serving, removed, retired or resigned, this ongoing ministerium is for you. If you know of someone who would benefit from this ministerium, tell them of it. The launch is in San Francisco at Hearts on Fire, but the momentum of that event will carry the ministerium forward… Be a part of it; help others to become parts of it… We serve Christ proudly and humbly, called by grace to serve the people of God…
[See the coming Spring issue of Concord for articles regarding the significance of ministerium in lives of two LGBT pastors, one out, the other not.]
|
