Sarasota News Leader

05/02/2014

Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/305631

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 106 of 111

Further, Meehan has been a television pro- ducer, the release adds. Her Godtalk programs have aired on Fairfax Cable, a local access channel in northern Virginia. On July 31, 2006, Meehan was one of 12 women who were ordained Roman Catholic priests by the Roman Catholic Women Priests' Movement, the release points out. On April 19, 2009, she was ordained a bishop. She serves the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests. Her email address is sofiabmm@aol. com. She also serves as a co-pastor of the Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community, which meets at 4 p.m. each Saturday at St. Andrew United Church of Christ, located at 6908 Beneva Road in Sarasota. For information about Freethinkers' Briefings, call David Ryan at 365-4027 or email at d2mryan@verizon.net. Frank Schaefer will speak on the theme Acting in Love Unconditionally during the annual spring service of the Gulfcoast Affirming Interfaith Network (GAIN), the organization has announced. The program will begin at 7 p.m. on May 8 at the Suncoast Cathedral of the Metropolitan Community Church, located at 3276 E. Venice Ave. in Venice, a news release says. Schaefer is a former ordained minister of the United Methodist Church, a position he held for more than 20 years, the release adds. In December 2013, Schaefer was tried by a United Methodist court for officiating at his son's same-sex marriage and was defrocked over his refusal to uphold the Book of Discipline. To uphold the book would have meant having to denounce gay marriage rights, the release explains. He and his wife, Brigette, have four chil- dren, the release continues. Now a United Methodist Church layperson, speaker and activist, he continues to advocate for human rights, the release notes. GAIN represents diverse faith communities, affirming the dignity of all, the release says. It comprises 15 churches and synagogues, "plus innumerable allied groups and supporters," the release adds. The Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches will introduce Schaefer and serve as moderator of the May 8 program. The program also will feature a discussion by parents about raising LGBT children, as well as music by Diversity and the GAIN ensem- ble, the release notes. A reception will follow the service. Everyone is welcome, the release points out. There is no charge. SCHAEFER TO SPEAK ON TOPIC ACTING IN LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY Press Releases & News Tips News@SarasotaNewsLeader.com Sarasota News Leader May 2, 2014 Page 107

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Sarasota News Leader - 05/02/2014