Mark Gruber
Stole Text
Mark Gruber
United Methodist Church
As the song of a United Methodist pastor, I grew up with deep love for Jesus Christ and His church at the center of my life. In 1983, after beginning a career in elementary education, I felt my own powerfully clear call to the ordained ministry. Heeding that call, the following year I began full-time seminary studies and began serving a Northern Virginia parish as assistant pastor. My sense of joy and certainty in responding to God’s call was absolute.
Unfortunately, I began my studies and parish ministry in the year that this denomination issued its decree against the ordination of “self-professing” homosexuals. While I had not yet declared my sexual orientation – to myself or to the world at large – its reality was becoming undeniably clear inside me. Not wishing to be an embarrassment to the church I loved, and believing that I had been created for better than a life of loneliness and lies, I withdrew from seminary and returned to the teaching career that I had previously begun.
To this day, twenty-six years later, I grieve my departure from the path I had begun toward ordained parish ministry. God has blessed me with continuing opportunities to serve within this troubled denomination that I love, despite it all, and with the miracle of a wonderful husband with whom to share my life and faith journey.
United Methodist Church
As the song of a United Methodist pastor, I grew up with deep love for Jesus Christ and His church at the center of my life. In 1983, after beginning a career in elementary education, I felt my own powerfully clear call to the ordained ministry. Heeding that call, the following year I began full-time seminary studies and began serving a Northern Virginia parish as assistant pastor. My sense of joy and certainty in responding to God’s call was absolute.
Unfortunately, I began my studies and parish ministry in the year that this denomination issued its decree against the ordination of “self-professing” homosexuals. While I had not yet declared my sexual orientation – to myself or to the world at large – its reality was becoming undeniably clear inside me. Not wishing to be an embarrassment to the church I loved, and believing that I had been created for better than a life of loneliness and lies, I withdrew from seminary and returned to the teaching career that I had previously begun.
To this day, twenty-six years later, I grieve my departure from the path I had begun toward ordained parish ministry. God has blessed me with continuing opportunities to serve within this troubled denomination that I love, despite it all, and with the miracle of a wonderful husband with whom to share my life and faith journey.
Contribution Story
The stoles for Mark Gruber and Rachel Small Stokes were made and donated by Mandi Janis.
Archival Record
Stole Number: 1154
Honoree(s): Mark Gruber
Donor(s): Mandi Janis
Geography: Unknown, (USA)
Faith Tradition: United Methodist Church
Donation Date: 2012
Citation
“Mark Gruber,” LGBTQ Religious Archives Network, accessed April 25, 2024, https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/items/show/1057.