“In 2014 Rhonda was baptized by Pastor Ryan Carrell as her girlfriend and kids watched. A decade later, after suffering a heart attack, Rev. Carrell presided over Rhonda’s funeral.
Carrell’s lgbtq+ affirming ministry has gotten him in trouble with his conservative denomination, the Church of God Anderson (Indiana).
COGA is noncreedal but does insist on uniformity of its clergy on certain matters. The clergy are not, it would seem, meant to affirm members of the queer community. For 11 years the denomination has officially defined marriage as being between one man and one woman, but as they are noncreedal, many clergy assumed the resolution was nonbinding. The denominational leaders seem to consider it quite binding.
Ministers are having their credentials revoked or are surrendering them voluntarily over this very issue. Carrell’s own parish was given an ultimatum. The pastor could resign his credentials and leave. He could have his church vote to disaffiliate. Or he could be investigated and adjudicated by the Church of God. They assured him, any of the three options would end with the same result.
The Queer God Squad applauds religious leaders who put love, relationship, compassion, and justice ahead of dogma and fundamentalist understandings of scripture. Whoever goes against love is not on the right side of the issue.”
