More than 100 retired United Methodist clergy of the Rocky Mountain Annual Conference have announced their enthusiastic and unwavering support for Bishop Karen Oliveto and their appreciation for her exceptional leadership as their spiritual leader.
The United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy (ARC) of the Rocky Mountain Conference has been formed in response to the complicated 19-page ruling issued April 28 by the United Methodist Judicial Council on whether an openly gay clergy person can serve as a bishop.
The new ARC group has affirmed its understanding that Bishop Oliveto has been duly nominated, elected, consecrated, and assigned to the Mountain Sky region of the United Methodist Church, which includes 400 congregations in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Montana. Its members agree with the five Western Jurisdiction bishops in their goal “for a United Methodist Church that is multicultural and inclusive.”
In the first meeting of retired pastors. they elected as chairperson the Rev. Dr. Don Messer, president emeritus of United Methodist-related Iliff School of Theology, author of 16 books, and currently executive director of the Center for Health and Hope.
Dr. Messer said that in the past week, he had contacted retired United Methodist pastors who have served in the Rocky Mountain region. “Too often retired clergy feel placed on the retirement shelf,” Dr. Messer said. “But they eagerly jumped off to signal their unwavering support of our Bishop, ARC and its vision of an inclusive church.”
Dr. Messer said that vision included a commitment “to stand in solidarity with LGBTQ laity, clergy, and candidates for ministry, speaking and working to ensure the dignity and safety of all persons in church and society.”
Other officers elected were the Rev. Dr. Harvey Martz, former senior pastor of St. Andrew United Methodist, Highlands Ranch, as vice chairperson; the Rev. Marilyn McGraw, former pastor of Phillips Church in Denver; and the Rev. Greg Young, former pastor of Christ United Methodist, Denver.
Steering committee members include the Rev. Betty Bradford, former pastor of Lakewood Church; the Rev. Doug Slaughter, former pastor of Litteton Church; the Rev. Dr. Janet Forbes, Highlands Ranch; the Rev. Marla Kauerz, former pastor at Hope Church in Greenwood Village; and the Rev. David Ferguson, former pastor at Good Shepherd Church in Thornton.
Dr. Martz noted: “Bishop Oliveto brings great spiritual depth to her demanding role as our Episcopal leader. She brings diverse experience, passion, a pastoral spirit, and unique leadership gifts to her role as our Bishop, and we are excited about her presence with us.
"She has served in a variety of congregations as well as on a seminary staff. Her most recent role before her election as bishop was senior pastor of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco, a congregation of 11,000 members that is one of the flagship churches for U.S. United Methodism and which was featured in the film, “The Pursuit of Happyness.”
Dr. Martz said: “She has been properly nominated, unanimously elected, duly consecrated, and appropriately assigned to our area. We retired clergy unequivocally support her leadership.”
The Rocky Mountain United Methodist ARC officers believe that there will be other groups of retired United Methodist pastors across the denomination who will organize to advocate for a church that is fully inclusive of all people regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, economic condition, or sexual orientation.
An upcoming role of this new United Methodist ARC group will be at the June meeting in Denver of 800 laypeople and pastors from a three-state area (Colorado, Wyoming and Utah) where the ARC leaders will be present to listen, interpret, and advocate for full inclusion in United Methodism.
Upon hearing about the formation of the retired pastor group, Bishop Oliveto said, “I am so excited about the organizing of the retired clergy. They have served the church faithfully as pastors, professors, chaplains, and in so many other ways. They continue to faithfully serve as they offer their wisdom and hope to our area. May God bless their efforts and the partnership we share as we live into Beloved Community.”