LGBT story report
Gay Catholic priest comes out to an uncertain future
By Tim Townsend — May 29, 2013
ST. LOUIS (RNS) ``I have tried over the years to reconcile my silence as a gay priest with that of the Church's increasingly anti-gay stance. I have been unsuccessful,'' the Rev. Gary Meier writes in his book ``Hidden Voices: Reflections of a Gay, Catholic Priest.''
Lesbian bishop candidate fails in Minn.
By Tracy Gordon — November 3, 2009
(RNS) The Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota averted controversy on Saturday (Oct. 31) by electing a heterosexual church leader rather than a lesbian Chicago priest as its next bishop. The Rev. Brian Prior, of Spokane, Wash., was elected in the fifth round of voting, according to the diocese. The Rev. Bonnie Perry, who would have been […]
Episcopal Church lifts ban on gay, lesbian bishops
By Tracy Gordon — July 14, 2009
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Episcopal Church on Tuesday (July 14) overwhelmingly voted to lift a three-year-old moratorium on consecrating gay and lesbian bishops, despite warnings that the ban was necessary to preserve unity in the wider Anglican Communion. A large majority of Episcopal bishops, priests and lay delegates gathered here for the church’s triennial General […]
Church of Sweden elects lesbian bishop
By Tracy Gordon — May 29, 2009
UPPSALA, Sweden (RNS/ENI) The newly elected Lutheran bishop of Stockholm says that being a lesbian means she wants to stand alongside people who feel powerless. “I know what it is to be called into question,” the Rev. Eva Brunne said in an article on the Web site of the Church of Sweden after her Tuesday […]
Presbyterian court rules against lesbian minister
By Tracy Gordon — March 26, 2009
(RNS) A San Francisco woman’s quest to overturn a ban on non-celibate gay and lesbian clergy in the Presbyterian Church (USA) was denied on a technicality by a regional church court. Lisa Larges, 45, declared a conscientious objection to denominational standards that require celibacy for gay and lesbian clergy. On Wednesday (March 25) the Permanent […]
Another lesbian demands custody of Christian woman’s daughter
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 19, 2009
A lesbian is demanding custody of a Christian woman’s daughter in a case that could strong-arm Florida into recognizing out-of-state adoptions by same-sex couples.
Methodist bishops say lesbian ordination not valid
By Tracy Gordon — November 13, 2008
The United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops said it will not recognize the ordinations of two women, including a lesbian, by the unofficial Church Within a Church movement, according to a statement released on Nov. 7.
Presbyterian minister will return to court over lesbian wedding
By Tracy Gordon — August 20, 2008
A Presbyterian minister who officiated at a lesbian wedding in 2005 is heading for church court again, two years after charges against her were dismissed on a technicality.
Presbyterian court clears lesbian pastor on wedding charges
By RNS Blog Editor — May 1, 2008
The highest court of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has reversed a lower court’s censure of a lesbian clergywoman who performed what critics called same-sex weddings for two lesbian couples in California.
Lesbian clergy couple comes up on short on `Amazing Race’
By Lilly Fowler — November 15, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service LOS ANGELES _ Kate Lewis and Pat Hendrickson may be ordained clergy, but even before they became the latest couple eliminated from “Amazing Race,” they knew God wasn’t really watching. “We are religious people, but we have no illusions that God cares whether we win the Amazing Race,” Lewis, 49, […]
Gay, Lesbian Muslims Seek Out `Marriages of Convenience’
By RNS Blog Editor — June 16, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service NEW YORK _ On a Web site for gay South Asians, 27-year-old Syed Mansoor uploaded the following message last summer: “Hi, I am looking for a lesbian girl for marriage. I am gay but I would like to get married because of pressure from parents and society. I would like […]
Lesbian UM pastor loses bid; the burden of student loan debt for new pastors
By RNS Blog Editor — November 1, 2005
RNS starts off Monday with an update on the trial of lesbian United Methodist minister, Rev. Irene Elizabeth “Beth” Stroud. Kevin Eckstrom reports that today she lost her bid to return to the pulpit Monday (Oct. 31) when the church’s highest court upheld her conviction on charges of being a “self-avowed practicing” homosexual. And, in […]
In Bid to Return to Pulpit, Lesbian Pastor Cites Supreme Court Sodomy Ruling
By Kein Eckstrom — October 21, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service (UNDATED) A United Methodist pastor is hoping a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned sodomy laws will help her return to the pulpit after a lesbian relationship caused her to be expelled from the clergy. The Rev. Irene Elizabeth “Beth” Stroud will get her final appeal next week (Oct. 27) […]
Lesbian UM pastor appeals; Islamic charities help quake victims
By RNS Blog Editor — October 21, 2005
In Thursday’s RNS report Kevin Eckstrom writes about the Rev. Irene Elizabeth “Beth” Stroud, a United Methodist pastor who was ousted because she is in a lesbian relationship, and who is now fighting back with a 2003 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned sodomy laws. Stroud will face the church’s highest court at a hearing […]
Lesbian Minister Helps Defend Pro-Gay Decisions of Episcopal Church
By Richard Allen — June 23, 2005
c. 2005 Religion News Service (UNDATED) A lesbian member of an American delegation giving a spiritual defense of homosexuality in the Anglican Communion says she sees the church reaching a crucial milestone on gay issues. “We’ve come to the point where we can stand up and say, `Let me tell you about my life and […]
