| Case Type | Disciplinary |
| Presbytery | Pacific |
| Affiliations | Minister of Outreach/Evangelism, TAMFS Northern California |
| Complaint initiated | March 28, 2002 |
| Charge Alleged | 1. "Acting in willful and deliberate
violation of her ordination vows...to further the peace, unity and
purity of the church" 2. "Renouncing the jurisdiction of the Presbyterian Church (USA)" "The accused did, at all times relevant hereto since July 21, 2000 practice without repentance the sin of homosexuality. As evidence of her defiance of the constitution, she has accepted employment by an advocacy group known as 'That All May Freely Serve' and in that capacity has advocated that the constitutional restriction of G-6.0106(b)...need not be obeyed." |
| Complainant | Paul Rolf Jensen |
| Status | Pending |
March 28, 2002 - Complaint filed
What I keep coming back to, is not so much what I want to say to the church as what do I want to say to my children, to my friends, family and colleagues. I have never known such joy as the day when I was ordained. The church was packed with friends and family and overflowing with the Spirit. I never have known such personal fulfillment as being a pastor has brought me. I love being a pastor - all parts of the the position. Preaching, planning and leading worship, teaching, Vacation Bible School, Children's Sermons, committee meetings, performing wedding ceremonies, baptisms, counseling, visiting folks in the hospital, holding their hands as they die, celebrating their lives afterward... My list could and does go on and on.
My coming out in the church was and has been every much a part of my call as the original call to ordained ministry was. God has persisted after me calling me into wholeness, calling me to life, calling me to share what I know of God and of God's grace. I have tried to run from my call all along, but God draws me in and I can do nothing else but respond. I tell you this because as I now face the allegations that have been brought against me, I find I cannot find the way that I can with integrity do anything but tell the truth.
There are no "loopholes" for my life, for who I am, for who I love, for what I am called to do. I cherish my ordination, the privileges I am honored to receive because of it, (celebrating the sacraments, marriages,etc.) yet I cannot cling to it at the cost of truth. Each day I get up, I embrace with gladness who I am - a lesbian Presbyterian, who loves being a pastor, a partner, and a Mom.
I don't choose to go this direction because I am looking for a fight, to be a great strategy move, to be a martyr - I feel called by God to simply and clearly tell the truth of my life. I cannot imagine having to tell my children that I have chosen to do otherwise. To do so would stand in opposition to everything I have ever tried to teach them. I take very seriously others' beliefs about how we should respond, but at this point shall continue to lean into speaking truthfully about myself and my life.
From the very moment I knew I was called to come out in the church, I knew that ultimately I stood to risk loosing my ordination. I cannot tell you how deeply that prospect grieves me, yet I am willing to risk it for the sake of truth and for those that I love and am in relationship with.