You go, Pastor Jen!

November 17, 2007 by Pastor Dan.

I would have loved to be there! Today, my colleague Jennette Rude was ordained into the Lutheran ministry to serve Resurrection Lutheran Church in Chicago. Her father and grandfather, also Lutheran pastors, were there to share in the joy.   Read the full news story here.

Today was another of those days — they do not come often enough — when I am exceedingly proud of my faith tradition. They did the right things for the right reason in ordaining Jen, an out-Lesbian (can there be any other kind?) Who is grounded in the faith we all hold dear, a faith of grace, compassion, hopefulness and acceptance.

Today Jesus must also be proud of this small corner of his church. Yes, Jesus—the same Jesus who did not condemn, who welcomed with compassion, who constantly taught forgiveness, and who had little to nothing to say against those things which seemed to scandalize religious people.

Where he taught love and welcome, encouragement and reconciliation, are we to think that only those specific people o situations that the Gospels mention are to be included? When he included women, foreigners, Samaritans, the poor and the prisoner, are we supposed to limit our inclusiveness only to those specific Jewish women, or Syro-Phoenecians, Samaritans, etc., who are mentioned? Or was his a ministry of inclusion and grace which sets a pattern, a precedent to remind his followers to drop all distinctions, all prejudices, all signs of being scandalized by the presence of those who are different from themselves?

I am proud too of newly-elected Bishop Wayne Miller for his forthright and simple explanation of his position on this ordination extra ordinemi.

According to the Chicago Tribune story tonight,

“Chicago’s bishop, Wayne Miller, who took office in September, said he met with the congregation in October to discuss potential consequences should the national church choose to enforce the policy in the future. The congregation could be expelled from the denomination for calling Rude to serve.”‘This does not imply any bitterness or any hostility. It’s simply where we are right now,’ Miller said in an interview last week. ‘My goal is to keep people in the conversation, and I do not see this as an issue that should be dividing the church. I think it’s one of the many places where difference of opinion can make the church stronger and healthier, as long as people stay at the table and keep talking.’”

Miller had spoken with equal forthrightness after his election as Bishop last spring, saying that he believes the rules against gay and lesbian clergy should be changed. Miller, and also his predecessor Landahl, can be counted on to defend the work of the Holy Spirit to move the church forward. Especially truth-ful and grace-ful is his remark, “I do not see this as an issue that should be dividing the church.”

For those of us doing our own ministries all over the church, and who also do not stand within the ordinary policies of the church, we don’t see why there should be division either, except for the unwarranted histrionics of conservatives who cannot bear the thought of sharing the heavenly banquet with homosexuals.

I wonder if they could have tolerated the presence of the Beloved Disciple at the Last Supper, either. No matter. I believe that both Jesus and his Beloved would be very proud today as Pastor Jen Rude celebrated the Holy Supper at Resurrection Lutheran. You go, Jen! And may the Spirit go with you!

—Pastor Dan Hooper, Los Angeles

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