Upper Midwest changes ministry policy to include GLBT candidates

From DisciplesWorld:

By Rebecca Bowman Woods, DisciplesWorld news editor

DES MOINES (12/6/08) — Disciples in the denomination’s Upper Midwest region are no longer barred from becoming licensed or ordained ministers if they are not heterosexual.

The region assembly on Oct. 11 voted 163-80 in favor of the change. The previous policy dates back to 1979, when the regional assembly adopted a policy prohibiting gays and lesbians from becoming ministers.

The region’s commission on ministry began studying the issues of sexual orientation and ministry several years ago, according to Patricia Adams Oberbillig, a recently retired Disciples pastor who chairs the ordination unit of the commission on ministry.

They studied scripture and theological writings pertaining to homosexuality and ministry. At some point they discovered they were dealing with two separate issues — the other having to do with Disciples’ congregational polity and the role of local churches in endorsing and supporting ministerial candidates.

“Congregations ought to be able to choose who they want to send to the ministry commission to embark on that time of formation,” said Richard Guentert, regional minister.

In June of 2007, the commission on ministry created a task group to look at 1979 resolution again, Oberbillig said.

According to the recently-adopted resolution, the 1979 policy "supersedes the congregation’s right to determine the worthiness and giftedness of potential ministerial candidates.” The resolution affirms congregations' role in recommending candidates for ministry, Guentert said.

Guentert noted that regional leaders tried to conduct the process and the vote in a way that would respect differing opinions.

In September, they held a “day of discovery” and invited every congregation to learn about proposed change and engage in a listening process. About 40 people attended, Oberbillig said.

The assembly’s vote was preceded by 48 minutes of discussion led by a trained parliamentarian, and the actual vote was taken by paper ballot, Guentert said.

While ballots were being counted, Guentert offered a pastoral word and led the assembly in prayer. “We did everything we could so that either way the vote came out, we could preserve the unity of the body of Christ,” he said.

Dennis McKee, an ordained Disciples minister serving as the chaplain at a retirement community in Bloomington, Minn., favored the policy change. “It wasn’t an open and affirming vote, but at least it took down a road block,” said McKee.


He thought the vote sent another important message: “that there is room for us to be Disciples together even if we don’t agree.”