David Norse will join Broad Street Ministry as a pastoral assistant. Credit: Broad Street Ministry
David Norse is opening doors.
The openly gay Presbyterian from Sherwood, Ore., will be ordained Sunday as the city’s first openly gay Presbyterian pastor.
Broad Street Ministry, which will ordain Norse at its 4 p.m. services, prides itself on offering “hospitality to everyone who passes through our big red doors,” Norse said.
As he accepts his position as pastoral assistant, Norse said he wants to show gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents not to fear walking into the Presbyterian church on South Broad Street near Pine.
“Because I’m here,” he said.
Rev. Bill Golderer, the convening minister of BSM, said in a news release that who someone loves “has never been an obstacle to fully participating in our church. We have always welcomed anyone wanting to share in God’s love and participate in God’s mission on Earth.
“While David’s sexual orientation is an important part of his identity, he sees himself first and foremost as someone called to pastor God’s people,” Golderer said.
Norse, 27, a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, moved to Philadelphia in September after graduation.
Norse said he expects to see an increase in LGBT members in religious ministries.
“It’s not because of their sex orientation that they are called,” he said.
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