Please join your Mountain View family as Inclusivity Committee wraps up our look at human sexuality and gender issues through the framework of the Wesley Quadrilateral. Last winter and spring we covered the pillars of tradition and experience in small groups sessions. Then in April we had a biologist, a sociologist and a psychologist from the University of Colorado on a panel addressing the latest developments and knowledge in their respective fields on sexuality and gender. That was the pillar on reason. Now the Inclusivity Committee addresses the final and important pillar of Scripture.
Sunday, October 7, 2:00 – 4:00pm in the sanctuary the Inclusivity Committee will present a panel discussion on what scripture says about human sexuality. Three Methodist clergy are on the panel. Rev. Joel Kershaw, senior pastor of Brighton UMC, will present the “traditionalist” view. Rev. Emily Hagan, senior pastor of Berthoud UMC, will present the “compatibilist” view. Rev. Dr. Harvey Martz, retired senior pastor at St. Andrew UMC in Littleton, will present the “progressive” view.
Each panelist will make a 25 minute presentation. Then the panelists will address and discuss written questions you submit. This is your opportunity to raise Bible passages and scriptural issues concerning human sexuality and gender. This is also an opportunity to learn, listen with our hearts and understand the variety of views and concerns in our Mt. View family.
Rev. Kershaw grew up the eldest son of a United Methodist pastor who served in Platteville, Wray and Pueblo. He received his BA in music with a minor in religious studies from Colorado State University in 2002 and a Master of Divinity from Boston University in 2005. He was ordained an Elder in 2008. His first appointment was as a youth minister at First UMC in Ft. Collins. He has been Senior Pastor of Brighton UMC over eight years where he has brought stability and growth. For the past two years he has also served as a volunteer chaplain with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. He and his wife Raven have two sons. Rev. Kershaw is a “rabid fan of the Denver Broncos,” who loves skiing, snowboarding, hiking and old movies, particularly those of Alfred Hitchcock.
Rev. Hagan graduated from Saint Paul School of Theology in 2004 with a Master of Divinity degree. She was ordained an Elder in 2007. She served as solo pastor in Rye and associate pastor in Canon City. She now serves as the pastor of Berthoud UMC. While at Saint Paul School of Theology Rev. Hagan had an immersion experience in a Trappist monastery as well as a Korean/China immersion experience. She has been on mission trips to Meru, Kenya; Goodland, Kansas; and Mission, South Dakota. She participated in a “Study, Sabbath, Service” project on Francis of Assisi through Columbia Theological Seminary and co-led an education trip to Assisi, Italy. Rev. Hagan and her husband Erik have a four year-old son. She enjoys music, reading and nature.
Rev. Martz grew up on Wichita Falls, Texas where he met his future wife Judy in Sunday school class at their home church. He was ordained Deacon in 1967 and Elder in 1970. When he was Pastor in Charge at Calvary Methodist Church in Colorado Springs he organized and sponsored a city wide Diversity Festival to draw persons away from the Ku Klux Klan rally held in the summers of 1992 and 1993. The Diversity Festival drew 1000 persons the first year and 5000 persons the second year. After the second Diversity Festival the Klan stopped holding recruitment rallies in Colorado Springs. In 2005 Bishop Warner Brown awarded Dr. Martz the “Bishop’s Award for Excellence in Parish Ministry” at the 2005 session of the Annual Conference. Dr. Martz retired in 2012. He and his wife Judy have two adult children.
Please join us on Sunday, October 7 as we continue the journey of loving conversations and differing beliefs within our church family. We can continue to serve our same God together as we look to provide a church that includes all. As John Wesley said, “We do not have to think alike in order to love alike.”