Female pastor shock congregation as she announces she is gay and has a lesbian partner

olamide oni

January 7, 2016 11:40 AM

"Our relationship is a holy part of God’s calling. We decided to commit our lives in love and covenant with one another. It was time."

A Methodist church pastor has revealed to the whole church that she is in a lesbian relationship.

Rev. Cynthia Meyer, the former Assistant Dean of Students for the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, came out in a sermon to the Edgerton United Methodist Church in Edgerton, Kansas.

After 25 years of pretending to be straight, Meyer explained that she will no longer be hiding her true self.

She said: “The Lord has led me here, to share my deep truth with you. It’s time.

“I’ve been an Ordained United Methodist Pastor for 25 years… at last I am choosing to serve in that role with full authenticity, as my genuine self. As a woman who loves and shares my love with another woman.

“I remained single through 20 years of my ministry, then a few years ago a wonderful relationship began to develop.

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“In the midst of much prayer, at long last Mary and I decided that the Holy Spirit had brought us together.

“Our relationship is a holy part of God’s calling. We decided to commit our lives in love and covenant with one another. It was time.

“Ideally, my telling you that I am in a committed relationship would simply mean that I could relate to you and to everyone else in openness and honesty, offering my most valuable gift – my full self.”

She added: “I could stop saying I’m going on vacation with a ‘friend. I could use the great sermon illustrations than come from ordinary day-to-day life as a couple.

“I could stop pretending to live alone. I could stop denying who I proudly, faithfully am, and who I proudly, faithfully love.”

Meyer, however, might not be allowed to continue preaching at the church because United Methodist Church does not currently allow openly gay clergy or same-sex marriage.

olamide oni