Methodist Youth Director Denied Ordination

Mary Ann Kaiser (l) and partner Annanda Barclay at Central Presbyterian Church (Photo by Jana Birchum)

Mary Ann Kaiser says she always knew her path to ministry would be challenging. "The church makes ordination a difficult thing to achieve because it's important," she says of her seven-year investment into ordination with the United Methodist Church. She also knew that ordination would be complicated due to her sexuality. Still, that did not lessen her shock when the UMC Southwest Texas Conference removed her candidacy on June 6 without a face-to-face meeting. In the United Methodist world, the decision was almost unprecedented.

Although the UMC's governing Book of Discipline leaves a technical loophole for closeted lesbians and gay candidates seeking ordination, it bars "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals" from the ministry. With upcoming nuptials planned to fellow ordination-seeker Annanda Barclay (see "Keeping the Faith," May 3), Kaiser meets the definition for preclusion. University United Methodist – where Kaiser works as a youth director and justice associate – voted to recommend her for ministry with full knowledge of her sexuality, but the denomination as a whole is still struggling with LGBT inclusion. Kaiser says the Board of Ordained Ministry made it clear that her being a lesbian was the overriding concern. "That was the stated reason, and there really wasn't need for more discussion beyond that."

However, the Book also outlines strict procedures for how ordination should be denied. Church law compels the board to interview all candidates who have been recommended for the ministry before making a ruling. The abrupt decision to not do so violates church law and drew loud protest from some within the church who say the decision not to ordain Kaiser was bungled.

With the support of church LGBT advocates and UUMC pastor the Rev. John Elford, Kaiser still has some recourse within the church. Bishop James Dorff, head of the Southwest Texas Conference, has promised a ruling within 30 days on whether the denial will stand. The decision will then be reviewed by the Judicial Council before final judgment is made. Regardless, Kaiser plans to stay with her denomination. She says: "I consider myself Methodist, and I stuck with the Meth­odist Church for a lot of convicted reasons, so I wouldn't leave easily. We're beyond easy I guess, but I'm not itching to run."

The uproar has also allowed Kaiser to highlight LGBT issues within the church. "As much as this is hard, I also feel privileged that I get to talk about it," she says. "I've been really surprised about how much global attention this story has received, but I'm so glad that the conversation is happening, especially within the Methodist Church. We haven't had a face to talk about in a while. The other side of this is that [denial of ordination] is happening all the time. I've gotten so many messages from other queer folks who've also been rejected, and their stories are not being told. If only there were headlines every time."