Denomination kicks out pastor over gay marriage

MINNEAPOLIS — Leaders of the Evangelical Covenant Church voted to defrock a Minneapolis pastor and expel his church for permitting gay marriage.

The Rev. Dan Collison had his credentials removed by a 77 percent vote Friday at the Evangelical Covenant Church’s annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska.

Leaders also voted to expel Collison’s First Covenant Church, a founding member of the 134-yearold denomination.

Collison, who became a pastor at First Covenant in downtown Minneapolis in 2009, told the Star Tribune he was “not surprised” but “saddened” after he was voted out.

“I feel grounded in the path we have chosen. I feel grateful for the pastors and churches who stood up for us. I feel compassion to those caught in the middle,” Collison said.

The ECC said that First Covenant is free to keep operating as a church and can keep its church building. First Covenant said that Collison will continue serving as lead pastor.

A First Covenant staff member officiated at an off-site wedding of two women from the church worship band in 2014. The church also put out a “love all” statement that said it welcomes members of the LGBTQ community to participate, including serving in leadership roles.

ECC leaders also voted Friday night to remove another pastor, Rev. Steve Armfield, a retired Michigan minister who officiated his son’s same-sex wedding in Minneapolis. Armfield also was accused of violating the denomination’s same-sex marriage ban.

Leaders recommended that Collison, Armfield and First Covenant be forced out because they violated Evangelical Covenant Church policies on human sexuality: “celibacy in singleness and faithfulness in heterosexual marriage.”