Ann Kansfield and Jennifer Aull
Ann Kansfield (right) and Jennifer Aull are co-pastors of Greenpoint Reformed Church, a welcoming congregation in Brooklyn with a busy soup kitchen and food pantry. Aull grew up as a Southern Baptist before reconciling her Christianity with her queer identity; she is now an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, as well as a marriage and family therapist. A Columbia graduate, Kansfield worked on Wall Street before 9/11 inspired a reassessment of her life—and a new life path. Unfortunately, there were speed bumps. In 2004, Kansfield’s father officiated at the couple’s wedding; as a result, he lost his job as a seminary president and got suspended as a Reformed Church minister. In 2006, Kansfield herself was refused ordination because of her samesex marriage. After much perseverance, the United Church of Christ ordained her last June. “As a Christian, I am ashamed that our faith has been twisted by fear and hate to justify excluding LGBT people,” Kansfield says, urging Christians not to let homophobia interfere with their faith. “Don’t let right-wing interpretations of the Bible keep you from having a relationship with God. There are lots of open and affirming churches that welcome all people, just like Jesus does.” Greenpoint Reformed Church is one such place of worship.
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