The search for justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender - as well as other members of the Queer community - has been a significant part of my adult life and my ministry as a pastor within the United Church of Christ. As a a gay man (and a formerly identified bisexual man), I personally understand the blessings and the trials of many GLBT persons in the Church. Below is a listing of some of the blessed experiences I have encountered as a bisexual/gay person ministering to/with/by/for GLBT folks and the straight sisters and brothers who have joined us.
Became a member of the United Church of Christ (1999)
Became the first openly glbt person to seek in-care ordination status in the Penn Central Conference of the UCC. (2000)
Joined the Millennium March on Washington for Equality : A National March for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Civil Rights (April 30, 2000)
Approached my fellow gay and lesbian seminarians at Lancaster Theological Seminary (LTS) about organizing a GLBT Awareness Week at LTS. With the guidance of my fellow queer seminarians and the administrators at LTS, the first GLBT Awareness Week occurs at LTS. (November 2000)
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Became a member of Penn Central of the UCC's 1st Open and Affirming (ONA) church, Disciples United Community Church (2000)
Proudly attended Central Pennsylvania's Pride Day with members of my church (2001)
Served at spiritual advisor to OUTreach, a support group for GLBT teens (2001)
Help to create and lead LTS' 2nd GLBT Awareness Week (November 2001)
Click here to open the .pdf of this week's brochure.
Received the "Frederick Schaeffer Prize in Church & Community" from Lancaster Theological Seminary for my ministries for/about GLBT people (2001)
Became Central Penn of the UCC's first out glbt pastor to be serving as ministerial staff for a Penn Central UCC church, Disciples United Community Church (June 2002)
Became the first out glbt person to obtain in-care ordination status within the Penn Central conference of the UCC (November 2002)
Assisted in the leading of LTS' 3rd GLBT Awareness Week (November 2002)
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Click here to open materials from this week (.pdf).
Sat on a ONA panel for Grace UCC in Lancaster, PA (2002)
The article, Organizing a GLBT Week at a Christian Seminary : A Bisexual's Journey, was published in the Journal of Bisexuality (2002)
Sat on a Welcoming Congregation panel for the Unitarian Universalists of the Cumberland County, PA (2003)
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Moved to Massachusetts to become part of an ONA conference. Became a member of First Churches of Northampton, MA and began attending Andover Newton Theological School (Newton, MA) (2004)
Assisted in the leadership of Andover Newton's Coming Out Day (October 2005)
Assisted in worship at Andover Newton's Coming Out service (October 2006)
Remembering Our Dead
Remember those gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who have died as a result of hate, homophobia and oppression. .
