Gay man a priest after long wait
RUSSELL: A Russell man who has just become an openly gay Anglican priest says others can take heart from his ordination.
Chris Swannell presided over his first communion on Sunday, at Christ Church in Russell.
He said it felt wonderful to be accepted as a priest, and he and his partner of more than 25 years were overjoyed.
Rev Swannell said he expressed no bitterness over the long wait towards his vocation and that this was a time of hope for the community.
‘‘We have probably felt a little bit excluded and not fully inclusive within the church. So I think for the LGBT Christian community, and for those who have a spiritual faith, hopefully this will give them a little bit of hope for the future.’’
It has been 13 years since he was ordained as deacon and 11 years since members of Christ Church called for him to become their priest.
He said he did not set out to become a priest but responded gladly to the call of the Russell congregation who wanted him ordained.
Church administration officer Roger Wyatt said the ordination was set to go in 2007, but the church hierarchy said no at the last minute, upsetting parishioners.
‘‘I always say if there is one person who was born to be a priest, it was Chris. It was just his spirituality and willingness to serve has always been there.’’
His sister Rosenna Hugh said it was a blow when her brother’s first planned ordination fell through.
‘‘My mum, I think she felt a bit sorry about that. We just said ‘oh you know, it’ll happen, it’ll happen, one day it’ll happen’. And it’s finally happened, [the ordination] was so good.’’
Ever since Rev Swannell was excluded from priesthood, people such as Heather Lindauer, who were themselves ordained as priests without any issues, have protested repeatedly at church gatherings.
‘‘It went on and on . . . I remember speaking three times and saying how we felt wounded that our choice was not being honoured.’’
Kim Benton, of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland, said the breakthrough had been a vote by the synod which allowed priests to bless legal marriages between samesex couples. — RNZ