A Really Good Week for Lesbian Ministers

by Michael Jones · 2009-11-11 15:14:00 -0500
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Stained glassIt's been a very good week for lesbian clergy. First Sweden consecrates the world's first lesbian bishop, Lutheran Eva Brunne, and now a section of the Presbyterian Church of the United States has voted, albeit by a mere 18 votes, to ordain their first lesbian minister. It's good news for Lisa Larges, who if everything continues to move forward, will be known from this point on as Rev. Lisa Larges.

Larges' appointment as minister had been blocked for fifteen years by folks who thought ordaining gay clergy would cause the sky to fall on the Presbyterian Church. Less than 24 hours after voting 156-138 to finally allow Larges to be a Reverend, the sky is still floating above. And the Presbyterian Church has taken a giant step toward inclusion.

In a statement released after the vote, Larges noted that the times they are a-changin'. Next thing you know the official Mormon Church might be supporting a gay rights measure.

"Change is happening in the churches," Larges said in her statement. "People are realizing that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have long functioned as contributing members of their faith traditions. It is time to tell the truth -- we are all created in God's image."

The decision to ordain Larges could still be appealed, as it has been in the past (January 2008 to be exact). And the larger Presbyterian Church still bans gay clergy -- this was a case where a region of the Presbyterian Church was able to vote on its own.

Still, as Larges moves closer and closer to becoming Rev. Larges, another wall of discrimination has started to be taken down in the faith world.

(Photo courtesy of seanmcgrath's photostream on Flickr.)

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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