Friday, May 19, 2017

EVEN AMID CONTROVERSY, “MY SOUL STILL SINGS,” SAYS UMC’S FIRST LESBIAN BISHOP

From Religion Dispatches-

The first out lesbian bishop consecrated by the United Methodist Church has long known that her path would lead to ministry. Bishop Karen Oliveto first felt the call when she was just 11 years old, preached her first sermon at 16, and became a student pastor at 18.

She came out as lesbian in seminary, where she was disappointed to learn that her authenticity around the way she believed God had created her suddenly made her “suspect.”

And even though a church judicial council ruled earlier this month that Oliveto’s consecration violated church law and requires a ministerial review, she remains in good standing with the church and, more importantly, she is more committed than ever to bringing peace, clarity, and acceptance to the United Methodist Church’s decades-long struggle over how to treat LGBTQ congregants and clergy.


More here-

http://religiondispatches.org/even-amid-controversy-my-soul-still-sings-says-umcs-first-lesbian-bishop/

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