Franconia Conference pastor loses credentials
by Mennonite Weekly ReviewPrint Article Email to a Friend
CHICAGO—Franconia Conference of Mennonite Church USA took away the credentials of pastor Michael Schaadt of Alpha (N.J.) Mennonite Church, effective Oct. 15, because Schaadt, who is gay, told the conference he could no longer commit to celibacy.
Ertell Whigham, director of congregational resourcing and equipping for Franconia Conference, says he worked with Schaadt over a five-year period.
“It has been painful and difficult for us as a staff as well as for Mike and the congregation,” Whigham says of removing Schaadt’s credentials.
When Schaadt transferred his credentials to Franconia, he was open about his sexuality and his participation in ministries that describe themselves as healing gay men and lesbians of their homosexuality. The agreement was that Schaadt would be celibate, Whigham says.
About a year ago, Schaadt told the conference his understanding of his sexuality had changed. “For me it came down to a question of integrity,” Schaadt says. “I had to be honest to say healing wasn’t taking place.”
At least not the healing he expected of a change in his sexual orientation, he says. “I do now describe myself as a healed homosexual, but the healing has come through accepting myself for who I am,” he says.
Franconia is still determining how it would respond if Alpha Mennonite chose to welcome noncelibate gay and lesbian members, Whigham says. Conference staff are talking to other conferences about how they handle the question, he says.
Schaadt says he encouraged the congregation to make a decision independent of him, and they have set a deadline of Jan. 31, 2009.
Schaadt and Whigham say their discussions, and those with the congregation, demonstrated openness, trust and a spirit of agreeing to disagree in love.
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