Church history

Primary tabs

About this Collection

History of Presbyterian and Reformed church governance, congregations, ministers, and theology. See the following related collections: Presbyterian General Assemblies; Church buildings; Protestant Reformation; and Sermons. Featured image: Synod of Catawba clergy and lay commissioners.

Search In

For

Title:
Holly and KC Clark-Porter oral history, 2023.
Description:
Reverend Holly Clark-Porter and Reverend KC Clark-Porter discuss growing up in Texas; attendance of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary; their joint ordination service at First & Central Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware (Newcastle Presbytery); the pastoral capacities in which they've served the Church; and the barriers they faced during their ordinations and ministerial work. They reflect on the fight for marriage and ordination rights of LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians within the Church. Additionally, KC reflects on coming out as trans and life as a transgender man.
Creator:
Clark-Porter, Holly. (interviewee), Clark-Porter, KC. (interviewee), Shilstut, Natalie. (interviewer)
Subject names:
Clark-Porter, Holly., Clark-Porter, KC., Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary., Presbyterian Welcome (Organization), First & Central Presbyterian Church (Wilmington, Del.)
Topics:
Ordination of gays--Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Ordination of lesbians--Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Homophobia., Same-sex marriage--Religious aspects--Presbyterians., Transgender men.
Geographic subjects:
El Paso (Tex.), Wilmington (Del.), Fredonia (N.Y.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:345294
Title:
Babs Miller oral history, 2023.
Description:
Oral history with Babs Miller, parish associate at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Austin, Tex.), on her career in ministry, including with Metropolitan Community Church (Austin, Tex.) during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, and as an evangelist with That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS) in the 2000s. Babs Miller is a Presbyterian minister, ordained by Mission Presbytery in 2014. Born in Victoria, Texas in 1942, she attended the Presbyterian School for Christian Education (Richmond, Va.) in the 1960s, and worked as a Christian educator, a social worker, and a high school teacher in Texas. She went to Austin Theological Seminary from 1987 to 1990, came out as a lesbian, and began work with Metropolitan Community Church (Austin, Tex.). From about 2004 to 2012 she was an evangelist with That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS). She has served as parish associate at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Austin, Tex.) since 2014, and continues advocacy for GLBTQ+ rights, in particular protection of trans youth and their families threatened by Texas state law codifying trans health therapies as child abuse. Starting in 2015, Miller was part of the group at St. Andrew's, as part of the Austin Sanctuary Network, declaring public sanctuary for migrants, and helped a mother and child, Hilda and Ivan, seek asylum.
Creator:
Miller, Babs Ann, 1942- (interviewee), Staniunas, David. (interviewer)
Subject names:
Metropolitan Community Church (Austin, Tex.), That All May Freely Serve (Association), St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Austin, Tex.)
Topics:
Ordination of lesbians--Presbyterians., Sanctuary movement., Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterians., Church work with immigrants.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:344175
Title:
Joanna Adams oral history, 2017.
Description:
Joanna Moseley Adams, Presbyterian minister, was born October 17, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended Columbia Theological Seminary and was ordained in 1979. She served Central Presbyterian Church (Atlanta, Ga.), North Decatur Presbyterian Church (Decatur, Ga.), and Trinity Presbyterian Church (Atlanta, Ga.), before spending two years as co-pastor alongside John Buchanan at Fourth Presbyterian Church (Chicago, Ill.). From 1996 on she was an organizer for and moderator of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians. She retired in 2010.
Creator:
Hessel, Beth Shalom. (interviewer), Adams, Joanna. (interviewee)
Subject names:
Adams, Joanna., Covenant Network of Presbyterians., Trinity Presbyterian Church (Atlanta, Ga.), North Decatur Presbyterian Church (Decatur, Ga.), Central Presbyterian Church (Atlanta, Ga.)
Topics:
Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church., Ordination of gays., Ordination of lesbians., Presbyterian women., Ecumenical movement., Social justice--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church., Interfaith worship.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:286239
Title:
Annanda Barclay oral history, 2021.
Description:
Annanda Barclay is an advocate for intersectional justice in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She has worked for LGBTQIA+ rights and served as Co-Moderator of More Light Presbyterians, a board member of the Spahr Reconciliation Initiative, and has helped plan pastoral candidate retreats with Parity (formerly Presbyterian Welcome). Barclay graduated with her M.Div. from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 2014. She is currently working as a pastor at Mission Bay Community Church (San Francisco, CA) and as interim chaplain at the University of the Redlands, while pursuing a full-time career in chaplaincy.
Creator:
Barclay, Annanda. (interviewee), Wittrig, Elizabeth L. (interviewer)
Subject names:
More Light Presbyterians., Presbyterian Welcome (Organization), Barclay, Annanda.
Topics:
Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church., Ordination of gays., Ordination of lesbians., African American Presbyterians., Presbyterian women.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:286179
Title:
Pearl Rugless O'Meally and Mary Ludlow Bookout oral history, 2019.
Description:
Pearl Rugless O'Meally and Mary Ludlow were on the nominating committee that called Janie Spahr to serve as pastor of Downtown United Presbyterian Church and early members of That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS). TAMFS began in 1993 after Rev. Jane Adams Spahr, a lesbian minister, was banned by the Permanent Judicial Commission from accepting a call to serve as a pastor of Downtown United Presbyterian Church (Rochester, NY). Downtown Church formed TAMFS ministry in response, electing Spahr to serve as a "lesbian evangelist" to the PC(USA), and advocating for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians.
Creator:
Rugless O'Meally, Pearl. (interviewee), Ludlow, Mary. (interviewee), Wittrig, Elizabeth L. (interviewer)
Subject names:
That All May Freely Serve (Association), Downtown United Presbyterian Church (Rochester, N.Y.), Rugless O'Meally, Pearl., Ludlow, Mary., Spahr, Jane Adams.
Topics:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)--Homosexuality--Religious aspects., Ordination of lesbians., Presbyterian women.
Geographic subjects:
Rochester (N.Y.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:177400
Title:
Greg Partridge, Doug Potter, and Mary Rees oral history, 2019.
Description:
Greg Partridge, Doug Potter, and Mary Rees were all active members of That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS). Mary Rees and Doug Potter both served as co-moderators of the organization. Greg Partridge was editor of the TAMFS newsletter. TAMFS began in 1993 after Rev. Jane Adams Spahr, a lesbian minister, was banned by the Permanent Judicial Commission from accepting a call to serve as a pastor of Downtown United Presbyterian Church (Rochester, NY). Downtown Church formed TAMFS ministry in response, electing Spahr to serve as a "lesbian evangelist" to the PC(USA), and advocating for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians.
Creator:
Partridge, Greg. (interviewee), Potter, Doug (interviewee), Rees, Mary. (interviewee), Wittrig, Elizabeth L. (interviewer)
Subject names:
That All May Freely Serve (Association), Downtown United Presbyterian Church (Rochester, N.Y.), Spahr, Jane Adams.
Topics:
Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church--20th century., Ordination of gays., Ordination of lesbians., Presbyterian women.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:177191
Title:
Ashley DeTar-Birt oral history, 2019.
Description:
In 2018, Rev. Ashley DeTar-Birt, an out bisexual woman, was ordained in the PC(USA). She was ordained by Rutgers Presbyterian Church in New York as the Pastoral Fellow for Youth and Families. Ashley DeTar-Birt holds a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary. She currently serves on the board of More Light Presbyterians and is an advocate for youth ministry and social justice.
Creator:
DeTar-Birt, Ashley. (interviewee), Wittrig, Elizabeth L. (interviewer), Prescott, Sonia. (interviewer)
Subject names:
More Light Presbyterians., Presbyterian Welcome (Organization), DeTar-Birt, Ashley.
Topics:
Bisexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church., Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church., Social justice--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church., African American Presbyterians., Presbyterian women., Ordination of gays., Ordination of lesbians.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:166800
Title:
Deborah Block oral history, 2019.
Description:
Deborah Block was in the first generation of women who were ordained in the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. She graduated from Carroll College in 1974 and began ordained ministry in 1978 at Immanuel Presbyterian Church (Milwaukee, WI). Deborah became an advocate for LGBTQ rights at the 1978 General Assembly and went on to serve as co-moderator of the Covenant Network.
Creator:
Block, Deborah. (interviewee), Wittrig, Elizabeth L. (interviewer)
Subject names:
Covenant Network of Presbyterians., Block, Deborah.
Topics:
Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church., Ordination of gays., Ordination of lesbians.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:153479
Title:
Peggy Meeker and Marie Gibson oral history, 2019.
Description:
Peggy Meeker and Marie Gibson were both active members of That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS). TAMFS began in 1993 after Rev. Jane Adams Spahr, a lesbian minister, was banned by the Permanent Judicial Commission from accepting a call to serve as a pastor of Downtown United Presbyterian Church (Rochester, NY). Downtown Church formed TAMFS ministry in response, electing Spahr to serve as a "lesbian evangelist" to the PC(USA), and advocating for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians.
Creator:
Meeker, Peggy. (interviewee), Gibson, Marie. (interviewee), Wittrig, Elizabeth L. (interviewer)
Subject names:
That All May Freely Serve (Association), Downtown United Presbyterian Church (Rochester, N.Y.), Meeker, Peggy., Gibson, Marie., Spahr, Jane Adams.
Topics:
Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church--20th century., Ordination of gays., Ordination of lesbians., Presbyterian women.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:153477
Title:
Nancy Brown and Eileen Smith oral history, 2019.
Description:
Nancy Brown and Eileen Smith were both active members of That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS). TAMFS began in 1993 after Rev. Jane Adams Spahr, a lesbian minister, was banned by the Permanent Judicial Commission from accepting a call to serve as a pastor of Downtown United Presbyterian Church (Rochester, NY). Downtown Church formed TAMFS ministry in response, electing Spahr to serve as a "lesbian evangelist" to the PC(USA), and advocating for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians.
Creator:
Brown, Nancy. (interviewee), Smith, Eileen. (interviewee), Wittrig, Elizabeth L. (interviewer)
Subject names:
That All May Freely Serve (Association), Downtown United Presbyterian Church (Rochester, N.Y.), Brown, Nancy., Smith, Eileen., Spahr, Jane Adams.
Topics:
Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church--20th century., Ordination of gays., Ordination of lesbians., Presbyterian women.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:153476
Title:
Third Presbyterian Church More Light Committee oral history, 2019.
Description:
Oral history interview with Ralph Carter, Betty Iwan, and Ann McMican on how Third Presbyterian Church (Rochester, N.Y.) became a More Light congregation.
Creator:
Third Presbyterian Church (Rochester, N.Y.) (interviewee), Wittrig, Elizabeth L. (interviewer)
Subject names:
More Light Presbyterians., Carter, Ralph C. (Ralph Campbell), Iwan, Elizabeth., McMican, Ann., Third Presbyterian Church (Rochester, N.Y.)
Topics:
Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church., Ordination of gays., Ordination of lesbians.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:153475
Title:
Lisa Larges oral history, 2019.
Description:
Lisa Larges, a 1989 graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary, was first denied ordination as a minister of word and sacrament in 1993. She joined That All May Freely Serve in 2002, serving as regional coordinator, and later as minister coordinator. Her ordination by the Presbytery of San Francisco in 2009 was challenged and spent three years in Synod and GAPJC proceedings. In 2016, she was ordained as a teaching elder at the Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church (Minneapolis, MN).
Creator:
Larges, Lisa. (interviewee), Wittrig, Elizabeth L. (interviewer)
Subject names:
That All May Freely Serve, More Light Presbyterians
Topics:
Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church, Sexual orientation--Religious aspects--Christianity, Ordination of gays, Ordination of lesbians
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:150251
Title:
Heidi and Frank Vardeman oral history, 2019.
Description:
Heidi and Frank Vardeman were allies in the More Light movement which worked for LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the PC(USA). They became involved in the 1980s as pastors of John Calvin Presbyterian Church (Tampa, Florida), a welcoming congregation that helped form the Tampa AIDS Network.
Creator:
Vardeman, Heidi. (interviewee), Vardeman, Frank. (interviewee), Wittrig, Elizabeth L. (interviewer), Hessel, Beth Shalom. (interviewer)
Subject names:
More Light Presbyterians., John Calvin Presbyterian Church (Tampa, Fla.), Macalester Plymouth Church (St. Paul, Minn.)
Topics:
Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church., Sexual orientation--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church., Ordination of gays., Ordination of lesbians., AIDS (Disease)--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church., AIDS (Disease)--Patients--Pastoral counseling of.
Geographic subjects:
Tampa (Fla.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:149298
Title:
Katie Cannon interviewed by Alice Brasfield, December 7, 1987.
Description:
Dr. Katie Cannon is the first ordained African American woman Presbyterian minister and a founding voice of Womanist theology.
Creator:
Cannon, Katie G. (interviewee), Brasfield, Alice, 1931- (interviewer)
Subject names:
Cannon, Katie G.
Topics:
Womanist theology., African American Presbyterians., African American women clergy., Women in the Presbyterian Church.
Geographic subjects:
Boston (Mass.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:116524
Title:
Katie Cannon interviewed by Alice Brasfield, December 7, 1987, side 1.
Description:
Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon is the first ordained African American woman Presbyterian minister and a founding voice of Womanist theology.
Creator:
Cannon, Katie G. (interviewee), Brasfield, Alice, 1931- (interviewer)
Subject names:
Cannon, Katie G., Costen, James Hutten, 1931-2003.
Topics:
African American Presbyterians., Women in the Presbyterian Church., Womanist theology., Presbyterian women--United States., African American women clergy., African American intellectuals.
Geographic subjects:
Boston (Mass.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:116466
Title:
Katie Cannon interviewed by Alice Brasfield, December 7, 1987, side 2.
Description:
Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon is the first ordained African American woman Presbyterian minister and a founding voice of Womanist theology.
Creator:
Cannon, Katie G. (interviewee), Brasfield, Alice, 1931- (interviewer)
Subject names:
Cannon, Katie G.
Topics:
African American Presbyterians., Women in the Presbyterian Church., Womanist theology., Presbyterian women--United States., African American women clergy.
Geographic subjects:
Boston (Mass.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:116459

Bookmark

BookBags: