News from the Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples Alliance

Contents: September 2006

Open and Affirming Congregation Celebrates New Blessings

Rev. Jeanne Loveless, the new Pastor at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in San Lorenzo, California has a habit of signing her e-mails, "May streams of living water rain down on your head." And at Jeanne’s recent installation, FCC San Lorenzo’s Search Committee Chair, Debbie Sheets remarked that "since the church has called Pastor Jeanne the blessings have been raining down on us like a thunderstorm!"

On March 1, 2006, Jeanne Loveless was called as Senior Pastor of First Christian and a few weeks later the church became the 71st congregation in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to officially declare itself "Open and Affirming."

First Christian Church's Search Committee:  Back Row: Bev Kral and Debbie Sheets, Committee Chair; Front Row: Doral Main, Tim Killian, Pastor Jeanne Loveless, Jeanne's partner Rev. Christy Newton, and Dottie Gorton, Church Moderator.

"I am elated about the church’s decision to become O&A. It declares our identity in the community and situates us to spread the good news in vibrant new ways… It is also very affirming for me personally." Jeanne says.

Jeanne came out as a lesbian when she was in her early 20’s when she was an undergraduate at an evangelical university in northeastern Indiana. "It was a rough place to come out." She reflects. "I encountered a wall of spiritual arrogance and in the process I swallowed an elephant sized dose of homophobia. I angrily threw God out with the fear-filled evangelical bathwater and completely lost my way on my spiritual path until my late 30’s."

But if the word at San Lorenzo is any indication, She is finding her way back. San Lorenzo Moderator Dottie Gorton stresses, "Jeanne is exactly the leader we need. She is grounded, compassionate, articulate and deeply spiritual. She has walked through the fire and come out transformed on the other side. And it shows in sermons and in her spiritual care for us."

"My spiritual journey has been incredible" Jeanne says, "It has been filled with laughter, tears, anger, prayer, discernment, therapy, CPE, study, reflection, a commitment to sobriety, faith and a growing realization that absolutely nothing can separate us from the fierce love of God… If I can convey one thing about God to my congregation as their pastor. That would be it…"

Jeanne grew up in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Southwestern Indiana and when she felt called to ministry after years of exile she returned to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) "My grandparents, Noel and Ochla Creek, were founding members of the Southern Indiana DOC congregation I grew up in. They were strong believers that everyone should be welcome at the table. I decided it was time to step up on their shoulders and take it to the next level."

In 1999, after graduating from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, California with her M.A. in Psychology, Jeanne began Seminary at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California and found a home at University Christian Church in Berkeley. In 2001 University Christian Church called her to serve on the Interim Pastoral team with Mary Donovan Turner, Gus England, and Bill Shive. "It was an incredible time for me filled with learning and struggle....  Mary helped me find my preaching voice. And the congregation loved and supported me." She laughs. "They also sat through some pretty fiery, over the top, sermons while I was working through my anger at the church."

During Seminary, Jeanne also met her partner Rev. Christy Newton an ordained minister in the DOC, who is a Ph.D. student at the Graduate Theological Union/University of California at Berkeley. "I would have thrown in the towel a lot of times if it hadn’t been for Christy." She says. "She has such a strong love of the church... and she has always encouraged me, challenged me, held me accountable, and helped me find the grace when the going gets rough." Jeanne was ordained at University Christian Church in Berkeley on Pentecost, June 8, 2003 and has served Disciples congregations in Northern California, Indiana, and Arkansas on an interim basis. She has also served as a hospital chaplain at the University of Arkansas Hospital in Little Rock before accepting the call as senior pastor at FCC San Lorenzo.

Asked about her vision for FCC San Lorenzo Jeanne replies, "Right now I am just loving the congregation and getting to know them and letting them get to know me. If they know and trust me, they are going to be more willing to let me hold the torch as we walk through the postmodern wilderness together."