A Wisconsin man who left his Presbyterian ministry in California more than 20 years ago after telling his congregation that he is gay was welcomed back into the church leadership on Saturday as its first openly gay ordained minister.In a quavering voice ripe with emotion, 56-year-old Scott Anderson told the hundreds of friends and backers who packed Covenant Presbyterian Church in Madison for his ordination ceremony that he never thought the day would come.
“To the thousands of Presbyterians who have worked and prayed for almost 40 years for this day, I give thanks,” Anderson said. “And I give thanks for those who disagree with what we’re doing today yet who know that we are one in Jesus Christ.”
Slowly, drip by drop, bit by bit, the ship is turning. Soon, very soon, our religious, political and social institutions will catch up with the majority opinion in our society. We welcome them to join us.
