Religiongay pastorChristianitylesbian pastor

Theda Good, Lesbian Mennonite Minister, Licensed In Denver, A First Step Towards Gay Ordination

Mennonite Congregation Makes Historic Stride Forward For Equality
Religion News Service
Open Image Modal

(RNS) On Sunday (Feb. 2), a Denver congregation of Mennonites licensed the first lesbian in a committed same-sex relationship, the first step toward ordination.

Theda Good’s licensure was celebrated by some Mennonite Church USA clergy and greeted with dismay by others.

Good was licensed for ministry as pastor of nurture and fellowship at First Mennonite Church of Denver, where she is currently on the staff. Originally from Lancaster, Pa., Good is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, Va.

Whether the Colorado-based conference, or region, of Mennonites will approve Good’s ordination isn’t clear. Good declined to be interviewed.

The Mennonite Church USA’s articles of faith include a provision that states: “We believe that God intends marriage to be a covenant between one man and one woman for life.”

Karl Landis, pastor of Mount Joy Mennonite Church in Mount Joy, Pa., said he expects the move to pose a dilemma and “rough sailing for relationships among conference leaders.”

On the other hand, “Theda’s ordination is another step towards a more affirming position,” said Joanna Harader, pastor of Peace Mennonite Church in Lawrence, Kan.

Keith Weaver, moderator of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference, said he isn’t sure what lies ahead. “Now the struggle is how we live together?” he asked. Those who have convictions about the historic understanding of the church (with regard to marriage) are very concerned about this action.”

The Mennonite Church USA, the nation’s largest Mennonite body, is the result of the 2002 merger of the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church.

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Statements On LGBT People From Faith Leaders
Archbishop Desmond Tutu(01 of13)
Open Image Modal
"Desmond Tutu leaves no doubt about his opinions regarding LGTB rights, declaring: 'I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that is how deeply I feel about this.'He added: 'I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place.'"Read more here (credit:AP)
Pope Francis(02 of13)
Open Image Modal
"'Who am I to judge a gay person of goodwill who seeks the Lord?' the pontiff said, speaking in Italian. 'You can't marginalize these people.'"Read more here (credit:Getty Images)
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.)(03 of13)
Open Image Modal
"Muslim congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), the Representative for the 5th district of Minnesota, released a short, but cute, video to celebrate the first day of same-sex marriage in his home state.While strumming a guitar and singing 'This Land Is Your Land,' Ellison congratulates the people of Minnesota for standing up for marriage and making a difference in their state. As he says in the video, 'Tomorrow, marry who you want, marry who you love.'"Read more here (credit:AP)
Rabbi Laura Geller(04 of13)
Open Image Modal
"Now I can invoke the power vested in me by the State of California and declare them married in accordance with the laws of the State of California and our Jewish faith. Now we are so much closer to the truth of their experience: a gay or lesbian Jewish wedding, like a Jewish heterosexual wedding, is a Jewish wedding pure and simple, the inheritance of every loving Jewish couple.Eleh Mas'ei, these are the steps on the journey to the promised land."Read more here (credit:Rabbi Laura Geller / Facebook)
Sister Simone Campbell(05 of13)
Open Image Modal
Sister Simone Campbell, Executive Director of the Roman Catholic Social Justice Organization.In a recent interview with Believe Out Loud, she discussed why she supports LGBT rights and modernizing the Roman Catholic Church. “The Catholic hierarchy has done very poorly at engaging the issues of sexuality, period—their own, or anybody else’s,” she said. “I have said that what we need is a real spiritual renewal among our leadership because for me, following the gospel means be not afraid—welcome everyone, hug them, welcome them close, and live and love.”Read more here (credit:AP)
Dalai Lama(06 of13)
Open Image Modal
The February/March, 1994 issue of OUT magazine, which quoted the Dalai Lama as saying: "If someone comes to me and asks whether it is okay or not, I will first ask if you have some religious vows to uphold. Then my next question is, What is your companion's opinion? If you both agree, then I think I would say, if two males or two females voluntarily agree to have mutual satisfaction without further implication of harming others, then it is okay."Read more here (credit:AP)
Rabbi David Wolpe(07 of13)
Open Image Modal
On gay marriage- “I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time,” Rabbi Wolpe said. “I was doing it on my internal timetable in the synagogue, which was to try to bring people along slowly because I knew this would be very difficult for many people. I think it’s the most controversial thing I’ve ever done or will do.”Read more here (credit:Getty Images)
Rev. Jesse Jackson(08 of13)
Open Image Modal
At a time of increased attention to the Democratic Party’s platform plank supporting gay marriage, Rev. Jesse Jackson not only said he supports gay marriage, but told Human Events that in his capacity as a minister, he would perform a marriage of gay couples “if I was asked to.”Read more here (credit:AP)
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby(09 of13)
Open Image Modal
“I mean I know plenty of gay couples whose relationships are an example to plenty of other people and that’s something that’s very important, I’m not saying that gay relationships are in some way, you know that the love that there is less than the love there is between straight couples, that would be a completely absurd thing to say."Read more here (credit:AP)
Ani Zonneveld, president of Muslims for Progressive Values(10 of13)
Open Image Modal
"We can't move forward as a society, as a faith system, if we subscribe to these old draconian ways of practicing Islam," says Ani Zonneveld, who is the president of Muslims for Progressive Values. A 49-year-old singer-songwriter who lives in Los Angeles, she leads prayers for men and women together and tells gay Muslims, often shunned in other mosques, that their religion welcomes them.Read more here
Joel Osteen(11 of13)
Open Image Modal
"I believe the scripture says that being gay is a sin. But, you know, every time I say that, Chris … people say, well, you are a gay hater and you’re a gay basher," Osteen told Wallace during the interview. "I'm not. I don't - I don't dislike anybody. Gays are some of the nicest, kindest, most loving people in the world. But my faith is based on what I believe the scripture says, and that's the way I read the scripture.”Read more (credit:AP)
Pat Robertson(12 of13)
Open Image Modal
"Instead of criticizing the trans individuals, Robertson approached the situation in a seemingly level-headed manner.'I think there are men who are in a woman's body,' he said. 'It's very rare. But it's true -- or women that are in men's bodies -- and that they want a sex change. That is a very permanent thing, believe me, when you have certain body parts amputated and when you have shot up with various kinds of hormones. It's a radical procedure. I don't think there's any sin associated with that. I don't condemn somebody for doing that.'"Read more here (credit:AP)
The Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.(13 of13)
Open Image Modal
Her own record on those issues is that she voted to endorse Robinson and, when asked about blessings services for same-sex couples in Las Vegas, has said she supports the idea of gay partnerships: "I said that a parish wishing to do so would have to get the congregation to agree, to show that it was not an isolated event, divorced from the rest of its activities. The couple would also have to receive counselling, like anyone getting married."So far only two congregations have done the work, and I believe there have been two blessings in the past three years."Read more (credit:Facebook / Katharine Jefferts Schori)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip