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ministry highlights
Gay & Lesbian Ministry
Though we are further ahead than most denominations, The Episcopal Church is still wrestling with the full inclusion of gay and lesbian people and their equal access to the sacraments. Many dioceses and congregations across the country are actively supportive, a few are openly hostile, and most are somewhere in between.
As a Diocese with a significant number of gay and lesbian clergy, and a large number of ordained women clergy, Minnesota endeavors to be a place where people are boldly living into a vision of tolerance and acceptance.
Though far from perfect, the Diocese of Minnesota makes every effort to be a very good place for gay and lesbian clergy to do ministry. Following are excerpts from conversations with clergy about the climate of acceptance in the Diocese.
“I feel especially blessed to be serving a congregation in greater Minnesota which is loving, accepting, and genuine. When I preached about General Convention 2006 and the passage of the now infamous Resolution B033, members of the congregation wept along with me at the injustice of sacrificing one group of people — and their priest — to appease another group of people.”
“The vast majority, if not 100% are fine with me being a gay priest. I have had few if any problems in any of the congregations where I have served.”
“The support and love I have received from parishioners and my clergy sisters and brothers has been one of the greatest gifts in my life.”
“True, not everyone in the church here is accepting of GLBT persons — but it is not a huge issue. People do what they do, ministry is accomplished, and the Gospel is proclaimed.”
The Diocese of Minnesota addressed the issue of inclusiveness 10 years ago with A Resolution on the Baptismal Covenant. Read the Diocesan Convention Resolution of 1999 below. It highlights and confirms where we stand today.
A Resolution on the Baptismal Covenant in Response to Lambeth
Whereas, in our Baptismal Covenant we ask ourselves “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons … and will you respect the dignity of every human being?” And, our response is: “We will with God’s help,” and Whereas, baptism initiates everyone into the sacramental life of the Church, and Whereas, throughout the twentieth century, in response to an awareness of the implications of the Baptismal Covenant, the Spirit has moved us increasingly to take those steps necessary to declare that people of color, American Indians, women, children and people with disabilities are all entitled to the Sacraments and Blessing of our Church; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Diocese of Minnesota meeting in its Convention at Duluth, Minnesota, deems this a particularly appropriate time to include, welcome and embrace its Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender members and explicitly to declare that in our Diocese we continue to make available to them all of the Sacraments and Blessing of Christ’s beloved Church, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that our Deputation to the General Convention meeting in Denver in 2000 shall convey this action by our Diocese to the General Convention.
October 22, 1999
