ATLANTA-Marking a new milestone in its history, Gentle Spirit Christian Church is set to ordain Candace Chellew-Hodge to the ministry as clergy on December 7, 2003.
"We are please and excited about this step of growth for our church and its progressive independent Christian ministry," said Rev. Paul Turner, Senior Pastor of Gentle Spirit. "It gives us an opportunity to expand our ministry in a way that is truly inclusive and independent of denominational dogma and ritual."
Chellew-Hodge, a graduate of the Candler School of Theology, is the founder and editor of Whosoever, and online magazine for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Christians ( http://www.whosoever.org ). She is currently studying to become a spiritual director through the Atlanta Episcopal Diocese. Chellew-Hodge resides in Sumter, South Carolina, and is working to form a new rural ministry for GLBT Christians, their straight allies and other spiritual seekers.
"My ministry, including the new group called ‘We Too Believe’, will be focused on reaching out to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Christians who feel alone and isolated in rural communities," Chellew-Hodge said. "This ordination, this recognition of my ministry by Gentle Spirit, gives my ongoing ministries a new value and meaning in the community. I'm honored to be taking on this title with the blessings of this amazing congregation."
"This ordination enables Gentle Spirit Christian Church to expand its message of 'walking the talk' across state lines for the first time in our history and bring it to a part of the country where there is virtually no local support," Rev. Turner said. Chellew-Hodge's ordination will be held December 7, 2003, 7 p.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church at 1561 McLendon Avenue in Atlanta, which is where Gentle Spirit conduct's it's local ministry. A reception will be held immediately following the service.
Gentle Spirit Christian church is an independent GLBTQ and straight friendly Christian church that seeks to create an inclusive community committed to worshipping God freely in an atmosphere of grace, forgiveness, unconditional love and individual growth. In its five-year history, the church strives to help people develop a personal relationship with God that is not defined by traditional or mainline church dogma, ritual and rules that may be exclusive rather than inclusive. We hope in renewing their relationship with God, people will learn to live in the way that God asks us to in Micah 6:8: "to do justice, act mercifully and walk humbly with our God."
Our community has been battered, beaten and maligned, but we lay hold of Jesus' promise that, "If you are weary or heavy burden, come to me and I will give you rest."
"We strive to be a community where everyone is viewed as a unique creation of God and where each person is invested in bringing honor and glory to God. We work to uplift each other and recognize and affirm those qualities in us all that declare God's creation as good," said Rev. Turner.
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