Posted on 08/17/2012 4:10:07 AM PDT by Loyalist
OTTAWA — In a historic vote, the United Church of Canada has elected its first openly gay moderator.
After six ballots and nearly eight hours of voting at the church’s 41st general council in Ottawa Thursday, Rev. Gary Paterson emerged from a record field of 15 candidates to win the top job at Canada’s largest Protestant church. He is thought to be the first openly gay person to head any mainstream Christian denomination.
The 350 voting commissioners at the general council greeted the announcement with cheers and a prolonged standing ovation, and quickly voted to make Paterson’s election unanimous.
“I am so humbled by the trust and the responsibility you have placed in my hands,” Paterson told them.
The moderator, who is paid between $119,000 and $135,000 a year, is the presiding officer at meetings of the church’s general council and executive, and is viewed as its principal spokesperson. Paterson will be formally installed in the role for a three-year term Saturday, succeeding the current moderator, Mardi Tindal.
At a news conference following his election, Paterson acknowledged the historic nature of his election. “Among main line denominations, as far as I know this is probably a first,” he said. But he added that he was heartened that his sexuality had been a non-issue with those who voted for the new moderator. “
“I would suspect that that’s the primary news story. What some denominations or some parts of the world see as a huge dilemma or problem has not, within our immediate community here, been seen that way at all.”
Having an openly gay person as moderator “is good news,” he said. “I see the possibility for so many young people who may still be struggling with their orientation being able to look up and see role models.”
For some denominations, his election “will be problematic. I’m particularly aware that some denominations in what you would call the developing world will have very serious questions. I think we need to be in dialogue, that my very presence will in some ways force the issue.”
But Paterson said he wouldn’t want his sexuality to become the centrepiece of his time as moderator. “I sure hope it is not the central issue my being a moderator, because I think there are huge issues that we are called to address,” he said.
An “army brat” who was born in the Yukon in 1949, Paterson has served as minister of three Vancouver churches: First United, in the city’s Downtown Eastside; Ryerson United, a large suburban congregation; and St. Andrew’s-Wesley, a cathedral-like church in Vancouver’s downtown, where he currently presides.
The United Church was the first mainstream church in Canada to allow the ordination of gay ministers. In 1988, the church’s general council declared that everyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ, regardless of sexual orientation, was welcome in the church, and all members are “eligible to be considered for ordered ministry.”
The decision was bitterly opposed by the church’s more conservative members, many of whom subsequently left the church.
In 1992, the United Church ordained Tim Stevenson, currently a Vancouver city councillor, as its first openly gay minister. Today, the church boasts many gay and lesbian ministers, and the issue is no longer contentious for most United Church members.
Paterson is married to Stevenson, who has been his partner for 30 years. After the election results were announced, Stevenson joined Paterson on the Dias and the two embraced as attendees cheered and applauded.
Paterson, who has been an ordained minister for 35 years, also has three daughters from his first marriage, now all in their 30s.
Paterson was only one of three openly gay candidates for the moderator’s job. The other two were eliminated early, as was Rev. Tom Sherwood, an Ottawa minister who served as Carleton University’s ecumenical chaplain from 1999 to 2009.
He takes office at a difficult time for the United Church, which is dealing with a steep decline in membership, aging congregations and ministers, and an accelerating financial crisis.
During this week’s meeting, there was consensus that wrenching changes lie ahead, including the closure of more churches, program and staff cuts and new forms of ministry.
Paterson addressed the church’s difficulties at his news conference.
“I’ve heard from so many individuals that they’re worried or they’re feeling a lack of hope,” he said. “The role of the moderator is someone who can bring inspiration and hope. We will find our way through. We will be changed and we will be faithful.”
dbutler@ottawacitizen.com
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
Thank God my father converted out of the United Church in the 60s to marry my mother.
as long as FR doesn't
Could this be interpreted as a practicing gay moderator?
In our church, Presbyterian PCA (not PCUSA), we take in believers who are repenting of their sin. This as opposed to those promoting their sin.
Has it gotten to this, that some are taking in folks who promote sin?
To end up with enough homosexuals in the leadership and ministerial ranks of that church to take it over like this, you'd have to be overrun with all of them that Canada could supply ~ else, evenly distributed, this would not happen ~ EVER!
Sounds to me like it's time for all the straight people to leave before they make it a requirement ~ along with baptism ~ they still baptise, right?
From his lisp to God's ears?
How can a pervert be a Minister?
Insane world.
Lets make being a pedophile a requirement for Elementary School Teacher!!
This is why less people today claim a religion then did 50 years ago.............
Having an openly gay person as moderator “is good news,” he said. “I see the possibility for so many young people who may still be struggling with their orientation being able to look up and see role models.”
Then they should lead to Salvation through Jesus Christ and not led further done the path to Hell by a pervert........
Eat chicken at church and get shot!
He was picked because he was gay. Had he not been gay, he would not have gotten hired. He isn’t qualified. How embarrassing for him and he doesn’t know it.
Because they can’t wait to jump off the cliff right after the American Episcopal “church”.
Watching the episcopals convinces me Satan has hatched this little plan to destroy that denomination. God fearing congregations are fleeing, and then the headquarters sues them for their buildings. So they sit empty.
A through job of destruction of a denomination. I wonder if some of the gay leaders go back in their rooms and snigger at night at the mess they have made. Secret hostility towards Christ and his word is the only thing that can explain it.
Sad to see this Canadian den. doing the same thing. The enemy can’t destroy a strong church from without, so he sends his minions to take it down from within.
Decadence leads to dissolution and extinction. Say goodbye to the not so “United Church of Canada.” Let’s just pray that other “United” entities don’t follow.
The quickest way to drive straight’s away from Church is to fill it’s leadership with Queers.
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=16212
If you want to see what the Godless sound like when they take over a church, read the next to last paragraph. Jesus must weep.
“Sounds to me like it’s time for all the straight people to leave before they make it a requirement ~ along with baptism ~ they still baptise, right?”
“During this week’s meeting, there was consensus that wrenching changes lie ahead, including the closure of more churches, program and staff cuts and new forms of ministry.”
Looks like that’s exactly what’s happening...as it should.
Can only imagine what those ‘new forms of ministry’ are about ~ probably something unlawful in civilized societies.
“Steep declining memberships, aging congregations and ministers, declinging revenues” and I bet the good folks of the United Church of Canada don’t understand how those might be connected to the folly of not following Biblical principles...liberals are just plain nuts carrying out the policies of satan himself and not the Lord Jesus.
Freegards LEX
Now THAT's funny!!!! I wish I had that kind of wit.
The United Church of Canada has been a totally unscriptural masquerading joke for so many years that I can’t remember when it actually was a real church. In my opinion, they are exactly who Christ was speaking about in Matthew 7:22-24 …… 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
He is actually just another openly gay person to head a formerly Christian denomination. No true Christian church could select someone who openly rebels against scripture as a leader. We can have a leader who is guilty of adultery, if that person repents. We cannot have a leader who is guilty of adultery who brings "the other woman" to the ceremony recognizing his elevation.
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