Changing Diocesan Policy, Colorado Bishop Ordains Partnered Lesbian

January 13, 2009

Ending a diocesan policy of several years’ duration, the Rt. Rev. Robert O’Neill, Bishop of Colorado, ordained a partnered lesbian to the priesthood at Denver’s St. John’s Cathedral Jan. 10.

In a media statement, Beckett Stokes, director of communication for the Diocese of Colorado said that Mary Volland is a longtime resident of Colorado who had been a candidate for ordination in the Diocese of Minnesota, where she had been ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop James Jelinek. Ms. Volland has been called to serve as an assistant priest at St. Thomas’ Church, Denver.

“The Episcopal Church does ordain partnered gay and lesbian persons,” Ms. Stokes said. “Several Colorado congregations have been and are served faithfully by gay and lesbian clergy. Although there is a clear range of opinion among clergy and lay people of the diocese about the ministry of partnered gay and lesbian clergy, one of the gifts of Anglican Christianity is its tradition of holding widely divergent points of view in a context of orthodox Christian faith.”

Bishop O’Neill described the diversity of the diocese as “a great gift.” the rest