Conference groups adopt statement of full inclusion
At the 2016 Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference, two key groups issued statements regarding their intentions about involving lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgendered, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) persons. Both the Board of Ordained Ministry and the Clergy Session of the conference issued statements indicating that sexual orientation or gender identity would not be a consideration in ordination or participation in ministry.
The Board of Ordained Ministry’s open letter clarifies what had been existing practice. Rev. Linda Quanstrom, chair of the Board, shared in a public announcement, “At this juncture in the life of our denomination and in light of the roiling conversation in our society, and especially the tragedy of these past days, the Board of Ordained Ministry felt it essential to state explicitly what it has long practiced, and so we have released an open letter to our denomination.”
An open letter from the Oregon-Idaho Board of Ordained Ministry (June 15, 2016):
We as the Oregon-Idaho Board of Ordained Ministry believe this is a crucial time to declare how we operate in our work with those called by God into ordained ministry.
Because we have been a Reconciling Conference since 1996, because we have seen the gifts and graces for ministry in LGBTQ persons and have seen these same gifts too often denied, and because we hope to help lead change in our denomination's policy regarding LGBTQ persons in ordained ministry, we welcome all candidates as children of God as they discern God's call and claim upon them for ordained ministry.
We hold our candidates to high standards for fitness, readiness, and effectiveness in ministry. We do not take sexual orientation or gender identity into our consideration of candidates.
Like our denomination, neither our own Board nor our own Conference membership is of one mind in this statement, and so, we pray for the Spirit of God to continue to move in our board, our conference and our denomination.
The Oregon-Idaho clergy received the statement in their confidential clergy session. In response they crafted a similar statement that supports participation in the ministry covenant without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity. They voted to release the statement publicly.
Statement on inclusion by the Oregon-Idaho Clergy Session (June 17, 2016)
We the Clergy Session of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference believe this is a crucial time to declare how we operate in our work with those called by God into ordained ministry.
Because we have been a Reconciling Conference since 1996, because we have seen the gifts and graces for ministry in LGBTQ persons and have seen these same gifts too often denied, and because we hope to help lead change in our denomination's policy regarding LGBTQ persons in ordained ministry, we welcome all candidates as children of God as they discern God's call and claim upon them for ordained ministry.
We hold ourselves to high standards for fitness, readiness, and effectiveness in ministry. We commit to participate fully in the ministerial covenant with our colleagues of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Like our denomination, neither our own clergy session nor our own conference membership is of one mind in this statement, and so, we pray for the Spirit of God to continue to move in our clergy session, our conference and our denomination.