Chris Glaser
Encyclopedia
Rev. Chris Glaser, M.Div., has been an activist in the movement for full inclusion of LGBT Christians in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
, or PCUSA, for over 30 years. He is currently a minister in the Metropolitan Community Church
, or MCC.
degree in 1977. While still a student there in 1974, he formed a support group for gay Christians. In 1976, during an intern at University of Pennsylvania
, he founded a peer counseling service for gay and lesbian people.
From 1976-77, he served as the only openly gay man on the Presbyterian Task Force to Study Homosexuality
, and the rejection of its gay tolerant conclusions by the Church meant that Glaser himself was refused ordination as clergy by the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1978.
, funded by the Presbyterian Church (USA)
. He also worked with as a national coordinator and editor for Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (now known as More Light Presbyterians
) and their newsletter, More Light Update.
of Christ Covenant MCC in Decatur, Georgia
.
His published works include
Between 1998 and 2002, the year it ceased publication, Glaser edited Open Hands, a quarterly magazine for congregations welcoming of LGBT
people in seven mainline Protestant denominations in the United States and Canada.
He has also published articles in such national publications as Christianity & Crisis, The Christian Century, and The Advocate, Newsweek.
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
, or PCUSA, for over 30 years. He is currently a minister in the Metropolitan Community Church
Metropolitan Community Church
The Metropolitan Community Church or The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches is an international Protestant Christian denomination...
, or MCC.
Education
Glaser graduated from Yale University Divinity School with a M.Div.Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree in 1977. While still a student there in 1974, he formed a support group for gay Christians. In 1976, during an intern at University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, he founded a peer counseling service for gay and lesbian people.
From 1976-77, he served as the only openly gay man on the Presbyterian Task Force to Study Homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, and the rejection of its gay tolerant conclusions by the Church meant that Glaser himself was refused ordination as clergy by the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1978.
Presbyterian ministry
After leaving Yale without his ordination, he created and served (from 1978-1987) as Director of Lazarus Project, a ministry of reconciliation between the church and the lesbian and gay community in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, funded by the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
. He also worked with as a national coordinator and editor for Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (now known as More Light Presbyterians
More Light Presbyterians
More Light Presbyterians is a coalition of congregations and individuals in the Presbyterian Church committed to increasing the involvement of all people in the church, regardless of sexuality...
) and their newsletter, More Light Update.
MCC ministry
He began serving MCC San Francisco as Interim Pastor on November 1, 2006, having been ordained by this denomination. He has also served as Interim PastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Christ Covenant MCC in Decatur, Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
.
Interim Minister at Virginia-Highland Church (2009)
He began serving as Interim Pastor at Virginia-Highland Church in Atlanta, GA, on January 1, 2009, and is leading that church to define its vision for ministry in the Virginia-Highland neighborhood of Atlanta. http://vhchurch.orgWritings
Glaser is a leading writer in the field of Queer Theology.His published works include
- As My Own Soul: The Blessing of Same-Gender Marriage Seabury Press, 2009 Product.aspx?ProductID=4626
- Uncommon Calling 1988
- Come Home! 1990
- Coming Out to God 1991
- The Word Is Out 1994
- Coming Out as Sacrament 1998
- Reformation of the Heart: Seasonal Meditations by a Gay Christian With a Scripture Index 2001
- Communion of Life-Meditations for the New Millennium 1999
Between 1998 and 2002, the year it ceased publication, Glaser edited Open Hands, a quarterly magazine for congregations welcoming of LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
people in seven mainline Protestant denominations in the United States and Canada.
He has also published articles in such national publications as Christianity & Crisis, The Christian Century, and The Advocate, Newsweek.
External links
- Chris Glaser's webpage
- An archive of articles from Open Hands can be found here.
- Metropolitan Community Church San Francisco webpage