The question that flipped the Rev. Craig Chapman’s life was fired by a parishioner at the Episcopal church he led in Trenton, Mich.
“Are you gay?”
... Within six months [of answering yes], he was kicked out of the parish and in divorce proceedings with his wife. Later, he was temporarily barred from seeing his children. He landed in California and a year after that started an Anglican church, All Saints Parish, for gay, lesbian and straight people.
He’s still there in a rented space on Ventura’s Main Street, leading Sunday services for a congregation of about 50 people. Jewish and Buddhist communities share the space, holding their own services for gay and lesbian people and others.
“When I stand in the pulpit and preach about love and honesty, I can do it honestly,” said Chapman of messages he also once delivered to the parish in Michigan. “I always felt like I was lying to them.”
Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/oct/23/it-gets-better-craig-chapman/#ixzz13EyiXxaK
- vcstar.com
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