Ecuмenism, [San Francisco] Most Holy Redeemer [parish] style
Advent Vespers series at ‘gαy-friendly’ SF parish features non-Catholic ministers – but all share pro-ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖ viewpoint

California Catholic Daily
12/7/10

Beginning on Dec. 1, San Francisco’s “gαy-friendly” Most Holy Redeemer parish began the first in a series of weekly Advent Vespers services featuring leaders from ministers of non-Catholic religions. Whatever their religion, the ministers are united in professing the one seemingly essential dogma at Most Holy Redeemer – approval of ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖity.

According to a parish flyer about the vespers series, the Dec. 1 service was led by Episcopal Rev. Jay Emerson Johnson. Rev. Johnson is a member of the doctoral faculty at the Graduate Theological Union and a staff member at the Center for Lesbian and gαy Studies in Religion and Ministry at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. His biographical page on the CLGS website says, “His current research and writing interests involve the intersections of queer theory and Christian traditions.” As is the case with all of the other Advent Vespers leaders, Rev. Johnson is a supporter of same-sex “marriage.” At an Aug. 10 “Interfaith Prop 8” event at San Francisco’s Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, Rev. Johnson said: “…religious leaders need to understand that ‘tolerance’ is not good enough and acceptance is only marginally better. Healing the deep wounds inflicted by religious institutions will happen only when our faith communities recognize LGBTQ people as a divine gift in their midst – a heavenly, fabulous gift that, rather ironically, our religious communities now need for their own revitalization.”

Fr. Steven Meriwether, pastor of Most Holy Redeemer, will lead the Dec. 8 service.

The Dec. 15 service will be led by Rev. Jeff Bert. Rev. Bert has served as associate pastor at Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco for the past two years. The Metropolitan Community Church is a confessional body of approximately 250 congregations founded in 1968. It counts 43,000 members in 22 countries. The founding and organizing principle of the MCC is that ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖity is to be celebrated. From the MHR Vespers flyer: “Rev. Bert has a deep respect for the Roman Catholic liturgy and tradition, having grown up Catholic and studied several years for the priesthood.” His biographical page on the MCC San Francisco webpage describes his spiritual journey: “He worked for a while in the corporate world before pursuing ordination for the priesthood through studies and varied service for several years in the Catholic Church. Deciding to come out as a gαy man, he left that path and became a licensed sports massage therapist. He also served as director of volunteers at a large homeless shelter in Tampa, Florida. While living in Tampa, Jeff decided to seek ordination in the Metropolitan Community Churches.”

The Dec. 22 service will be led by Ms. Kaya Oakes. Ms. Oakes teaches writing at UC Berkeley, and is currently writing a memoir about life as a liberal Catholic. The “Causes I Support” section of her Red Room writer profile page includes “Repeal Proposition 8.” According to Most Holy Redeemer, Ms. Oakes is a member of the lay preaching team at Newman Hall/Holy Spirit Parish in Berkeley. This is not the first connection between Newman Hall/Holy Spirit and Most Holy Redeemer. On September 29, 2009, California Catholic Daily reported that Holy Spirit Parish hosted a recitation of the “relational mysteries of the rosary” -- the so-called “Queer Rosary.” The “queer rosary” was invented by Eugene McMullan, founding member of the pro same-sex “marriage” group Catholics for Equality. In a comment on the "Queering the Church" website dated September 12, 2010, Mr. McMullan wrote: "I began to develop the Relational Mysteries a few years ago when, as a practicing Roman Catholic layperson, I would pray with the rosary group on Sunday mornings at Most Holy Redeemer parish in San Francisco."

now we need to demand him to get all inward looking and pious,and what not.....maybe fall back on a scripture quote or 2 about self humility   :roll-laugh1: :roll-laugh2: :dancing-banana: