Rev. Mary Albing officially recognized as called to Christ the Redeemer
News & Events ยป Rev. Mary Albing officially recognized as called to Christ the Redeemer
 
Rev. Mary Albing officially recognized as called to Christ the Redeemer PDF Print E-mail
Sunday, 23 May 2010 13:31

Today, seven years after she was called by the congregation, the Rev. Mary Albing has been officially recognized as the pastor of the Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

When Mary was called by the congregation in 2003, all parties knowing that she was a lesbian, the bishop of the synod, Bishop Craig Johnson, said he could not sign approving the call. The position of pastor has been listed by the ELCA as “vacant” the entire time. But there is no denying that Mary has ministered to this congregation effectively. The congregation has been growing since 2005.

The bishop kept the original letter he was asked to sign in 2003, and today signed it, yet another sign of the wondrous results of the 2009 decisions by the Churchwide Assembly and the implementing actions of the ELCA Church Council in consultation with the Conference of Bishops earlier this year.

Mary was never off the roster of the ELCA clergy. She was officially listed as On Leave from Call for the period. Today’s signing officially “fills” the pulpit of the Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer as Mary is returned to On Call status, something that has been seven years in coming for the congregation.

Of today’s signing, Mary told the press that it was “huge day, and I’m very excited about that.” She said, however, the day was also about the congregation, whom she described as “courageous and loving.”

We join the congregation and the church in celebrating this recognition of a call to ministry, and rejoice at the affirmation of both a steadfast congregation and the worker for Christ they called.
 

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