![]() ![]() Quest Church in Seattle, Wash., voluntarily left the denomination over similar issues this year. The situation isn't unique to the Twin Cities. The Evangelical Covenant Church did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication. we pray for God’s blessing on Awaken and the Covenant Church as we each continue to join God in mission.” In an announcement to media, Evangelical Covenant Church Executive Board Chair Tim Rodgers said, “We are always grieved when fellowship is broken. In 2019, First Covenant Church in Minneapolis was also removed for adopting similar policies accepting LGBTQ+ congregants to participate fully in church life, including marriage. ![]() In the end, 75 percent of delegates voted to remove Awaken from the Evangelical Covenant Church.Īwaken also isn’t the first church involuntarily removed. Instead, he wanted more dialogue and for individual churches in the denomination to make their own decisions. He made his case for LGBTQ+ acceptance but didn't seek to change the ECC's overall stance. Like Paulson, Witham spoke at the annual national conference to argue against removal. When the church updated these guidelines, Witham said that there were “no pastor who dissent on this theologically in the room.” This discussion and voting process is typically required before adopting such measures. ECC member churches are also prohibited from hosting same-sex weddings.Īccording to Witham, these new guidelines were not voted on or discussed by the majority of pastors in the denomination. Updated guidelines from the 2010s state that pastors can attend as a congregant but can't bless, pray, officiate or participate in same-sex weddings. When we fall short, we are invited to repent, receive the forgiveness of God and amend our lives.” The ECC’s official stance currently is “faithfulness in heterosexual marriage, celibacy in singleness - these constitute the Christian standard. inadequate.”īen Hovland | MPR News A grieving fellowship To say we've already had this conversation is just so. “Gay marriage wasn't legal in the United States of America at that time. It was adopted as the basis for Church policies in the 2000s. Witham is referring to a resolution on human sexuality. He decided to officiate the same-sex marriage ceremony partly to make the ECC reevaluate its rules for pastors and churches. Witham believes everyone should be able to participate fully in church life at Awaken. Witham said he met “with the Board of Ordered Ministry, like five different times.” His decision to officiate a same-sex wedding in 2020 ultimately led to the church's removal. ![]() In 2017, Lead Pastor Micah Witham was suspended for giving a blessing over a same-sex couple in his congregation. “The second people found out that I was from Awaken, and who I was - literally eyes shot the other direction.”įor Awaken West 7th, run-ins with church leadership have a more extended history. “I'm talking to everybody making friends, and everyone was kind and loving and accepting,” Paulson recounts. Ben Hovland | MPR News Reevaluating the conversationĪwaken West 7th's removal from the ECC is just the latest episode in a wider conversation for churches about the place LBGTQ+ people have in their congregations.Īt the conference, Paulson says that it seemed most people had already made up their minds, even before she gave her defense statement.
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