Rev. Sarah J. Flynn
Stole Text
Rev. Sarah J. Flynn
American Catholic Church of New England
(formerly United Methodist Church)
Burlington, Vermont
I am sending with this letter a stole bearing the United Methodist emblem at one end of it.
I am sending with this letter a stole bearing the United Methodist emblem at one end of it. I wore this stole during my pastoral ministry which began as a student pastor in 1961 and continued as a full time Elder after I was ordained. I served parishes in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut before leaving pastoral ministry.
The reason for leaving was that I had finally come face to face with my transsexual gender identity after having struggled to deny it for about 25 years. I completed my transition in 1978 and started life over, eventually becoming a college registrar and advisor which became my second career.
During my second career as a registrar I served for 9 years as a United Methodist supply pastor on weekends. I served on conference committees and even arranged the installation service of an incoming bishop. The bishop who had originally ordained me to the ministry had, after I transitioned, re-issued my ordination papers in my new name at the request of the bishop under whom I had been serving.
I believe this was a bold step for a bishop to take in 1978. It was even bolder perhaps to appoint me to a part-time parish which I served on a “don't ask, and I won't tell” basis (but if asked, I would have told!)
Why then am I sending this stole? Because 1.) I owed it to the many LGBT people who had helped me over the years to come out and make my witness on behalf of their need for justice, and 2.) I met the woman who became my same-sex life partner. Being out and being in a same sex relationship put me at odds with the United Methodist Church policy banning self-avowed, practicing homosexuals from being appointed to parishes or blessing same-sex unions. I am guilty of being and doing both. So I left the part-time parish I was serving, retired from the United Methodist ministry and have been serving as a priest in an open and affirming church ever since.
I left because I did not want to create problems for the liberal bishops under whom I had served. By law, they would be forced to put me on trial even though it would be contrary to their own consciences to do so. I left also because there is much to be done both in terms of pastoral ministry and social justice advocacy for LGBT people and I could not do that work and avoid becoming involved a futile trial proceeding that would lead to my dismissal. Out of respect for the bishops who took such risks I thought it best to leave on my own and continue the work in another church.
Rev. Sarah J. Flynn
American Catholic Church of New England
American Catholic Church of New England
(formerly United Methodist Church)
Burlington, Vermont
I am sending with this letter a stole bearing the United Methodist emblem at one end of it.
I am sending with this letter a stole bearing the United Methodist emblem at one end of it. I wore this stole during my pastoral ministry which began as a student pastor in 1961 and continued as a full time Elder after I was ordained. I served parishes in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut before leaving pastoral ministry.
The reason for leaving was that I had finally come face to face with my transsexual gender identity after having struggled to deny it for about 25 years. I completed my transition in 1978 and started life over, eventually becoming a college registrar and advisor which became my second career.
During my second career as a registrar I served for 9 years as a United Methodist supply pastor on weekends. I served on conference committees and even arranged the installation service of an incoming bishop. The bishop who had originally ordained me to the ministry had, after I transitioned, re-issued my ordination papers in my new name at the request of the bishop under whom I had been serving.
I believe this was a bold step for a bishop to take in 1978. It was even bolder perhaps to appoint me to a part-time parish which I served on a “don't ask, and I won't tell” basis (but if asked, I would have told!)
Why then am I sending this stole? Because 1.) I owed it to the many LGBT people who had helped me over the years to come out and make my witness on behalf of their need for justice, and 2.) I met the woman who became my same-sex life partner. Being out and being in a same sex relationship put me at odds with the United Methodist Church policy banning self-avowed, practicing homosexuals from being appointed to parishes or blessing same-sex unions. I am guilty of being and doing both. So I left the part-time parish I was serving, retired from the United Methodist ministry and have been serving as a priest in an open and affirming church ever since.
I left because I did not want to create problems for the liberal bishops under whom I had served. By law, they would be forced to put me on trial even though it would be contrary to their own consciences to do so. I left also because there is much to be done both in terms of pastoral ministry and social justice advocacy for LGBT people and I could not do that work and avoid becoming involved a futile trial proceeding that would lead to my dismissal. Out of respect for the bishops who took such risks I thought it best to leave on my own and continue the work in another church.
Rev. Sarah J. Flynn
American Catholic Church of New England
Contribution Story
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Archival Record
Stole Number: 1071
Honoree(s): Rev. Sarah J. Flynn
Donor(s): Rev. Sarah J. Flynn
Geography: Burlington, Vermont (USA)
Faith Tradition: United Methodist Church
Donation Date:
Citation
“Rev. Sarah J. Flynn,” LGBTQ Religious Archives Network, accessed April 24, 2024, https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/items/show/1078.