How LGBT activism is changing religion

About 25 years ago, few people are certain of the date now, the leaders of a church in the middle of the gayborhood made an astonishing decision. The pastor of Oak Lawn United Methodist Church told the congregation it wasn’t appropriate for gay men and women to be in positions of leadership and those who were would be stripped of those roles.

The announcement stunned many of the church members.

“That was a devastating statement,” Shirley Cooper said. “We felt like we had been kicked in the head. Later, the gay people were in the kitchen crying. They had prepared the Thanksgiving dinner for the church, and they, as well as many of us, were wondering what was going to happen next.”

What happened next emptied a good deal of the pews. Cooper and her husband were members of Oak Lawn United Methodist, and they supported their gay son. After that announcement, they spent a year looking for another church, finally choosing Northaven United Methodist Church.

More at http://www.dallasvoice.com/lgbt-activism-changing-religion-10167912.html .

Cross-posted in the Religion Group.