2009 – Resolution to rescind CCK’s 1978 stance on the Ordination of Homosexuals, and
2011 – Open and Affirming
In 1978, a Resolution Concerning the Ordination of Homosexuals was adopted by the Regional Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kentucky. That resolution prohibited the ordination of anyone professing an openly gay lifestyle.
Over time, more and more members of Woodland came to see the resolution as problematic. As Dave Carr explained, aside from its open hostility toward people in the LGBTQ+ community, it was also seen as a cowardly act, for its effort to dodge the heart of the issue while tacitly endorsing the ordination of gay pastors, so long as they remained “closeted.”
Throughout the 1990s, Lexington Fairness and the Lexington Human Rights Commission built a coalition of supporters intent on passing a Fairness Ordinance in Fayette County. The groups worked quietly so as not to alert any opponents of their intentions. The ordinance would include Trans persons and provide protections in the areas of housing, employment, and public accommodations. By the end of the decade, the Human Rights Commission publicly endorsed the ordinance and pressured the Lexington Fayette Urban County Council to vote on the measure. Once the ordinance was introduced, it was quickly placed on the docket for action.
In July of 1999, Woodland Pastor Bill Kincaid, while speaking in favor of the Fairness Ordinance, claimed on scholarly grounds that much of the Bible-based rhetoric surrounding the treatment of gays and lesbians was suspect. He advised that both sides should keep religion out of the discourse because it would only “cloud the issue.” The opponents employ the “few biblical arguments which seem to condemn homosexuality,” while the proponents, on the other hand, adhere to “the dominant Biblical themes of hospitality, inclusivity, and justice.”
The council heard hours of televised public debate. Council members received insulting phone calls questioning their faith and some of the members’ children were harassed in their neighborhoods. But according to Councilwoman Linda Gorton (who would later become Mayor) the anguish she heard from LGBTQ Lexingtonians told her that the ordinance was necessary and right. The ordinance was adopted on a 12-3 vote.
By 2007, the Woodland Christian Church asked the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kentucky, to rescind its 1978 Resolution Concerning the Ordination of Homosexuals. In accordance with the regional by-laws, the Committee on Ministry sent Woodland’s Motion to a committee for research and reflection. Woodland’s Elder Steve Johnson and “Priscilla” Peggy Garnet joined a ten-member Research and Reflection Mission Action Team composed of clergy and laity representing diverse understandings of denominational and regional polity. Dave Carr served as staff consultant to the panel.
Following two years of discernment, the Action Team determined that the Christian Church in Kentucky’s policy was ineffectual for two reasons. First, the ambiguous language of the policy forced regional clergy into the impossible choice between honoring confidentiality or honoring regional policy. In addition, the policy was found to have usurped congregational authority as guaranteed in The Design for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) by granting to the region the power to determine individual’s gifts, fitness, and character of candidates for pastoral ministry.
Johnson recalled that “most folks really didn't see why the region continued to have this policy.” The Action Team reasoned that “if a congregation did not want to ordain a gay individual, they certainly did not have to. But if congregations like Woodland, who clearly felt a gay person had the gifts and talents for ministry, and were being called by God, then why should they not be given that opportunity?” Johnson shared his own story of not going to seminary because he did not want to face the ordination issue. “It really was the idea that autonomy was what we valued as disciples, and conservatives and liberals alike believed in this idea,” Johnson said.
The Action Team concluded that the 1978 resolution was in contradiction to the Ordering of Ministry as granted by The Design. The recommendation was accepted by the Regional Board and passed the General Assembly in 2009, but the victory fell short of achieving the full denomination-wide acceptance of openly gay and lesbian persons.
In 2011, with only one dissenting vote, Woodland Christian Church declared itself to be “Open and Affirming” – only the third Kentucky congregation to do so.
At Woodland, openly gay and lesbian persons are not only welcome for worship but are also welcomed to participate fully in the life of the church including serving in all leadership capacities within the congregation, including elder, and pastor.
Over time, more and more members of Woodland came to see the resolution as problematic. As Dave Carr explained, aside from its open hostility toward people in the LGBTQ+ community, it was also seen as a cowardly act, for its effort to dodge the heart of the issue while tacitly endorsing the ordination of gay pastors, so long as they remained “closeted.”
Throughout the 1990s, Lexington Fairness and the Lexington Human Rights Commission built a coalition of supporters intent on passing a Fairness Ordinance in Fayette County. The groups worked quietly so as not to alert any opponents of their intentions. The ordinance would include Trans persons and provide protections in the areas of housing, employment, and public accommodations. By the end of the decade, the Human Rights Commission publicly endorsed the ordinance and pressured the Lexington Fayette Urban County Council to vote on the measure. Once the ordinance was introduced, it was quickly placed on the docket for action.
In July of 1999, Woodland Pastor Bill Kincaid, while speaking in favor of the Fairness Ordinance, claimed on scholarly grounds that much of the Bible-based rhetoric surrounding the treatment of gays and lesbians was suspect. He advised that both sides should keep religion out of the discourse because it would only “cloud the issue.” The opponents employ the “few biblical arguments which seem to condemn homosexuality,” while the proponents, on the other hand, adhere to “the dominant Biblical themes of hospitality, inclusivity, and justice.”
The council heard hours of televised public debate. Council members received insulting phone calls questioning their faith and some of the members’ children were harassed in their neighborhoods. But according to Councilwoman Linda Gorton (who would later become Mayor) the anguish she heard from LGBTQ Lexingtonians told her that the ordinance was necessary and right. The ordinance was adopted on a 12-3 vote.
By 2007, the Woodland Christian Church asked the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kentucky, to rescind its 1978 Resolution Concerning the Ordination of Homosexuals. In accordance with the regional by-laws, the Committee on Ministry sent Woodland’s Motion to a committee for research and reflection. Woodland’s Elder Steve Johnson and “Priscilla” Peggy Garnet joined a ten-member Research and Reflection Mission Action Team composed of clergy and laity representing diverse understandings of denominational and regional polity. Dave Carr served as staff consultant to the panel.
Following two years of discernment, the Action Team determined that the Christian Church in Kentucky’s policy was ineffectual for two reasons. First, the ambiguous language of the policy forced regional clergy into the impossible choice between honoring confidentiality or honoring regional policy. In addition, the policy was found to have usurped congregational authority as guaranteed in The Design for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) by granting to the region the power to determine individual’s gifts, fitness, and character of candidates for pastoral ministry.
Johnson recalled that “most folks really didn't see why the region continued to have this policy.” The Action Team reasoned that “if a congregation did not want to ordain a gay individual, they certainly did not have to. But if congregations like Woodland, who clearly felt a gay person had the gifts and talents for ministry, and were being called by God, then why should they not be given that opportunity?” Johnson shared his own story of not going to seminary because he did not want to face the ordination issue. “It really was the idea that autonomy was what we valued as disciples, and conservatives and liberals alike believed in this idea,” Johnson said.
The Action Team concluded that the 1978 resolution was in contradiction to the Ordering of Ministry as granted by The Design. The recommendation was accepted by the Regional Board and passed the General Assembly in 2009, but the victory fell short of achieving the full denomination-wide acceptance of openly gay and lesbian persons.
In 2011, with only one dissenting vote, Woodland Christian Church declared itself to be “Open and Affirming” – only the third Kentucky congregation to do so.
At Woodland, openly gay and lesbian persons are not only welcome for worship but are also welcomed to participate fully in the life of the church including serving in all leadership capacities within the congregation, including elder, and pastor.
- https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/869
- 2009, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kentucky Regional Assembly Agenda
- Unpublished communication with Woodland and Kentucky Disciples Regional Staff member Dave Carr
- Unpublished communication with Woodland Elder Steve Johnson
- Bennett, Micah (1999) Fighting for Fairness: The History of Kentucky’s Local Movements to Enact Fairness Ordinances in 1999. Honors College Capstone Thesis, WKU.
- Butler, Kendal (n.d., 2014ish) Ministering to All God's Children. Bluegrass United Church of Christ.
- Sears, Brad. (2009) "Kentucky – Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Documentation of Discrimination." UCLA. Permalink: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/26n4n7mw
- See also: Thomas Nord, “3 changes gave gay-rights efforts new hope,” Courier-Journal, January 24, 1999, Metro, Final Edition
- See also Erlene Grise-Owens et al., “Organizing for Change: One City’s Journey Toward Justice,” Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 104 (2004), 8.
- https://www.lexpublib.org/digital-archives/lexington-history-museum-our-fair-city-1999-lexington-fairness-ordinance-exhibit