Local Church to Ordain Philly’s First Openly Gay Presbyterian Minister

Here’s another happy story to end the year with. I just got an email and press release from Broad Street Ministry (BSM) Covening Minister Bill Golderer, who shared that on January 5 BSM will ordain David Norse, Philadelphia’s first openly gay male Presbyterian minister. From the release:

“I am excited and humbled by the prospect of being ordained and dedicating my life to serving God and God’s people. It’s an overwhelming commitment, one that I couldn’t make without the support of BSM, my mentors, family and friends,” Norse said.

“I am blessed and proud to be a part of BSM and it’s outreach and advocacy for the forgotten among us. BSM is a congregation that welcomes all and cares deeply about the poor and economically disadvantaged. We believe in a God who expects us to serve others in our daily lives. Our church is one of inclusion that welcomes the LGBTQ community and sees inclusion as central to what Christianity is about,” he said.

Norse — a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary — currently serves as Pastoral Associate at BSM, working at the church’s Breaking Bread meals. He says BSM will launch and LGBT fellowship group soon, and will continue to “look for ways to serve particularly vulnerable members of the queer community we haven’t met yet.”

The ordination service is scheduled to take place on Sun., Jan. 5 at 4 p.m. at the Broad Street Ministry Church (315 S. Broad St.)