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470:"affirmed his ministry", in essence overruling the bishop. There being no charges against Abels before the board of ministry or the church courts, Ward later recommended reappointing Abels, though Ward noted that the conference's action "was in no way an approval of homosexuality as a life style". Leaders of Good News, a conservative
542:
524:
Twenty-five years after Abels' death, the New York Annual
Conference (NYAC) of the United Methodist Church adopted a petition recognizing that "a terrible injustice was done to these two dedicated and faithful pastors " and that the conference's "actions and the subsequent unstated policy of 'don't
469:
of
Metropolitan‐Duane United Methodist Church was asked to take a leave of absence for a year after coming out as gay, before ultimately retiring. Abels, however, refused to do so and the matter was brought before the conference's board of ministry. In a 23–15 vote, the board decided that it
529:
clergy and laity in the NYAC". The conference "express deep remorse for the harm done and the pain experienced by Rev. Dr. Ed Egan and his companion, Russ Morin, and by Rev. Paul Abels and his companion Thomas Hunt and ask for God's forgiveness and theirs".
418:
in the United States, Abels said that his having come out was met with little disapproval at the time. In the same year, he performed several "covenant ceremonies" for same-sex couples, which were similar to
521:
on March 12, 1992. A memorial service was held at
Washington Square Methodist Episcopal Church on March 22 and another service was held a month later at Rensselaerville Presbyterian Church.
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prohibiting same-sex marriage and to prohibit the funding of "any 'gay' causes or group, or otherwise funds to promote the acceptance of homosexuality."
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at the
Education Conference on Homosexuality and the United Methodist Church, a conference organized by the gay Methodist organization
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which was being hosted at
Washington Square Methodist Episcopal Church. The first openly gay minister with a congregation in a major
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for a year. There was precedent within the New York
Conference of the United Methodist Church for taking such an action; in 1977,
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Methodist group, called for Ward's resignation after he was unsuccessful in dismissing Abels. Ward brought the matter before the
355:. He founded Provo Muse, the first non-profit performing arts management company in the United States, served as the director of
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membership. As pastor, Abels launched a $ 1.5-million restoration campaign for the church, which had a $ 450,000 endowment.
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478:, the church's highest court, which in 1979 ruled that Abels was in "good standing" and, therefore, the church's
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84:
506:, with Thom Hunt, his partner of approximately six years, where they restored Catalpa House and opened it as a
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from the pastorate in June 1984, the month following the
General Conference's 568–404 decision to prohibit the
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249:, to Carrie Mae (Atkins) and James Albert Abels. He attended public schools in Yellow Springs and
966:
Adam's Gift: A Memoir of a Pastor's
Calling to Defy the Church's Persecution of Lesbians and Gays
454:
425:
306:
286:
1226:"Methodists Rule a Homosexual May Stay Pastor: Manhattan Minister Wins in Highest Church Court"
1191:. Columbia Contemporary American Religion Series. New York: Columbia University Press. p.
1373:. White Plains, New York: New York Conference of the United Methodist Church. pp. 204–206
1349:
Jackson, Derrick (August 30, 1987). "Minister's Trial Puts Focus on Issue of Gays in Clergy".
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391:. It has also been described as "a sanctuary for gay New Yorkers" as a result of its large
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1260:. White Plains, New York: New York Conference of the United Methodist Church. p. 204
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733:. White Plains, New York: New York Conference of the United Methodist Church. p. 205
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and appointment of "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals" to the pastorate. He moved to
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333:
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New York Annual
Conference of the United Methodist Church 2017 Journal & Yearbook
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New York Annual
Conference of the United Methodist Church 2017 Journal & Yearbook
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New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church 2017 Journal & Yearbook
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429:. He had received approval from the church's board prior to performing the services.
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Adamo, S. J. (May 11, 1984). "Gay Methodist Minister Picks Retirement".
1096:
Queer Clergy: A History of Gay and Lesbian Ministry in American Protestantism
1030:
For Everyone Born: A National Convocation of the Love Your Neighbor Coalition
791:
702:
423:, causing public controversy after they were brought to public attention by
380:
285:. Abels went on to attend Drew Theological School, from which he received a
206:
138:
656:. General Commission on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church
624:
but the local church would not accept him on account of his homosexuality.
444:. At the same conference, delegates voted to strengthen language in the
761:. Nashville, Tennessee: United Methodist Publishing House. p. 23.
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35:
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383:, it was often called the "Peace Church" as it was well known for its
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in 1973, a year after having joined the congregation. One of the most
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Journal of the 1984 General Conference of the United Methodist Church
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These events were taking place the wake of a defeated motion at the
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Richey, Russell E.; Rowe, Kenneth E.; Schmidt, Jean Miller (2010).
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1006:. Vol. 1. Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press. p. 473.
1069:"United Methodists Vote to Allow Homosexual Minister to Keep Job"
933:
From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship
856:"The Rev. Paul Abels Dies at 54; Gay Pastor Lead 'Peace' Church"
620:
Ward had previously tried to transfer Egan to a small church in
518:
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246:
64:
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510:. He was the Executive Director of Equinox Services Agency in
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that sought to reverse the conference's 1972 condemnation of
336:, and later as director for the arts. He compiled and edited
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for Galaxy Music Corporation, and was the director of the
970:. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press. p.
461:, with the support of his cabinet, asked Abels to take a
367:
Pastorate of Washington Square Methodist Episcopal Church
344:, published by the NCC, which included some of his own
652:
Shenise, Mark C.; Cole, Peter; Brother, Lacey (2002).
758:
The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church
253:, Ohio. As a teenager, he was editor-in-chief of his
935:. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 291.
786:(SMM thesis). New York: Union Theological Seminary.
261:. After graduating from high school, Abels moved to
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603:The Methodist Church would go on to merge with the
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525:ask, don't tell' in the NYAC did untold damage to
482:mandated that he be reappointed to his pastorate.
301:in 1965 following approval of his thesis entitled
241:Paul Milford Abels was born on August 4, 1937, in
1124:"GC2016 Tackling 44-Year Stance on Homosexuality"
257:, and wrote a column in the local newspaper, the
784:An Ecumenical Manual of Song for Young Churchmen
303:An Ecumenical Manual of Song for Young Churchmen
1367:Eastman, Barbara; Howe, Margaret, eds. (2017).
1254:Eastman, Barbara; Howe, Margaret, eds. (2017).
1153:. United Methodist News Service. Archived from
1126:. United Methodist News Service. Archived from
805:Watson, J. R.; Hornby, Emma, eds. (2014).
727:Eastman, Barbara; Howe, Margaret, eds. (2017).
654:"Electronic Guide to the Paul Abels Collection"
209:minister who became the country's first openly
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305:. He served as music minister for churches in
269:, to study at the College of Liberal Arts at
8:
373:Washington Square Methodist Episcopal Church
223:Washington Square Methodist Episcopal Church
191:Washington Square Methodist Episcopal Church
1036:. Love Your Neighbor Coalition. p. 51
1027:Craig, Ann (2018). "Historical Timeline".
453:The year following Abels' coming out, his
34:
18:
277:degree in 1959. He was commissioned as a
1151:"12 Lessons from 12 General Conferences"
324:From 1964 to 1969, Abels worked for the
281:in 1961 by the Newark Conference of the
213:minister with a congregation in a major
1419:AIDS-related deaths in New York (state)
637:
596:
16:American Methodist minister (1937–1992)
1330:. Vol. 1. United Methodist Church
1284:"Homosexual Clergy Stirs Great Debate"
900:"Minister Sponsors Homosexual Rituals"
813:The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology
348:. After leaving the NCC, he worked in
332:, initially as a program assistant in
289:degree in 1963. He was ordained as an
1479:People from Rensselaerville, New York
7:
1444:Christians involved in controversies
1122:Gilbert, Kathy L. (April 27, 2016).
1353:. Long Island, New York. p. 7.
1004:The Methodist Experience in America
490:At the age of 46 years, Abels took
1489:United Theological Seminary alumni
1098:. Cleveland, Ohio: Pilgrim Press.
605:Evangelical United Brethren Church
361:Westbeth Artists Housing Community
14:
1469:LGBT people from New York (state)
1149:Peck, J. Richard (May 21, 2012).
853:Lambert, Bruce (March 14, 1992).
705:. LGBT Religious Archives Network
517:Abels died of complications from
338:Anthology of Religious Folk Music
1484:People from Yellow Springs, Ohio
1439:Christians from New York (state)
1434:American United Methodist clergy
1414:20th-century Methodist ministers
1324:Schreiber, John L., ed. (1984).
554:
540:
514:, New York, from 1984 to 1989.
486:Retirement from active ministry
1429:American Methodist hymnwriters
371:Abels was appointed pastor of
156:
1:
293:the same year. He received a
166:
1424:American arts administrators
1409:20th-century American clergy
782:Abels, Paul Milford (1965).
326:National Council of Churches
205:(1937–1992) was an American
1094:Holmen, R. W. (2013).
570:Homosexuality and Methodism
299:United Theological Seminary
273:, from which he received a
110:United Theological Seminary
1505:
815:. London: Canterbury Press
406:as gay to the church in a
387:, particularly during the
1449:Clergy from New York City
221:from 1973 to 1984 of the
196:
126:
33:
1187:Protestantism in America
1311:Philadelphia Daily News
753:United Methodist Church
609:United Methodist Church
434:United Methodist Church
342:New Hymns for a New Day
163:United Methodist Church
1454:Drew University alumni
416:Christian denomination
295:Master of Sacred Music
215:Christian denomination
1474:LGBT people from Ohio
1464:LGBT Methodist clergy
1157:on September 16, 2017
898:(November 27, 1977).
313:, New Jersey, and as
255:high school newspaper
237:Early life and career
1224:(November 3, 1979).
186:Congregations served
1282:(August 22, 1979).
421:marriage ceremonies
1288:The New York Times
1230:The New York Times
1073:The New York Times
904:The New York Times
861:The New York Times
480:Book of Discipline
447:Book of Discipline
438:General Conference
426:The New York Times
287:Master of Divinity
203:Paul Milford Abels
47:Paul Milford Abels
1202:978-0-231-11130-0
1181:Winner, Lauren F.
1105:978-0-8298-1963-2
1067:(June 18, 1978).
1013:978-0-687-24672-4
981:978-0-8223-4885-6
942:978-0-231-12542-0
768:978-1-5018-3321-2
703:"Rev. Paul Abels"
508:bed and breakfast
385:anti-war activism
379:congregations in
311:Hasbrouck Heights
259:Cedarville Herald
227:Greenwich Village
200:
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119:Years active
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1459:American gay men
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1130:on June 22, 2016
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548:Biography portal
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492:early retirement
476:Judicial Council
463:leave of absence
283:Methodist Church
275:Bachelor of Arts
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808:"Paul M. Abels"
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402:In 1977, Abels
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350:performing arts
271:Drew University
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217:. He served as
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105:Drew University
98:Alma mater
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85:Rensselaerville
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334:youth ministry
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243:Yellow Springs
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1313:. p. 85.
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1375:. Retrieved
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1292:. Retrieved
1290:. p. A9
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1232:. p. 23
1229:
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1159:. Retrieved
1155:the original
1144:
1132:. Retrieved
1128:the original
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1077:. Retrieved
1075:. p. 50
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985:. Retrieved
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562:LGBTQ portal
523:
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357:church music
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78:(1992-03-12)
24:The Reverend
1404:1992 deaths
1399:1937 births
585:Julian Rush
472:evangelical
467:Edward Egan
412:Affirmation
389:Vietnam War
377:progressive
1393:Categories
1377:August 17,
1264:August 17,
1161:August 16,
737:August 17,
632:References
496:ordination
353:management
267:New Jersey
251:Cedarville
53:1937-08-04
28:Paul Abels
792:505319358
381:Manhattan
328:(NCC) in
207:Methodist
139:Methodist
122:1963–1989
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1294:June 25,
1236:June 25,
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1040:June 10,
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611:in 1968.
534:See also
504:New York
436:'s 1976
404:came out
229:area of
177:Ordained
131:Religion
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397:lesbian
263:Madison
225:in the
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527:LGBTQI
512:Albany
455:bishop
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315:pastor
307:Towaco
279:deacon
219:pastor
146:Church
1034:(PDF)
591:Notes
346:hymns
291:elder
169:1968)
159:1968)
1379:2018
1336:2017
1296:2017
1266:2018
1238:2017
1197:ISBN
1163:2018
1136:2016
1100:ISBN
1081:2017
1042:2019
1008:ISBN
989:2019
976:ISBN
937:ISBN
912:2017
869:2017
821:2016
788:OCLC
763:ISBN
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711:2017
662:2017
519:AIDS
395:and
340:and
309:and
247:Ohio
180:1963
167:aft.
157:bef.
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67:, US
65:Ohio
43:Born
1193:163
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317:in
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