For Immediate Release

Contact:

Community United Church of Christ

(650) 593-7809

Extensive Media package available at: www.uccsc.org

Press Interviews with Bill Johnson available;

Contact Pastor Rolf Hansen

FIRST GAY CLERGY TO BE HONORED IN SAN CARLOS

35th anniversary celebration planned

San Carlos, CA ~ In the end, it was a matter of faith.

The Community United Church of Christ in San Carlos made world-wide headlines in June 1972 when it supported the ordination into the ministry of a 26 year old, openly gay man by the name of Bill Johnson. The event received extensive news coverage and resulted in heated discussion within the church and city. Ultimately after hours of discussion and debate, the UCC regional leadership agreed to accept the sponsorship, and Bill became the first openly gay clergyperson in the history of the Christian church. Bill has served nationally in the ministry of the United Church of Christ for the past 35 years, currently as the Vice President for Member Relations with the UCC Council for Health and Human Service Ministries in Cleveland, Ohio. And the Community United Church of Christ has gone on to become the spiritual landmark of this historic event and of the continuing struggle for acceptance of all people ~ regardless of gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation ~ into all aspects of Christian life and ministry.

“Today, I look at the pastors at our neighboring UCC churches. They are a diverse group of individuals ~ different ages, sexes, ethnicities, sexual orientations and family dynamics. I often stop and wonder why it shouldn’t be more like this in all denominations”, reflected Pastor Rolf Hansen of the Community United Church of Christ. “Our church took a courageous stand back in 1972 to embrace Christ’s loving acceptance and to support Bill Johnson’s ordination. That simple action started a process that ultimately shattered Church traditions and opened the doors for gays and others to participate fully in the life and ministry of the Christian Church as a whole. Today when we read about the divisiveness in other Christian denominations on these matters, gays in the Christian ministry is, for a majority of UCC members, a non-issue.”

The Community United Church of Christ will be celebrating the 35^th anniversary of the Ordination of Bill Johnson with a series of events on June 9 – 10, 2007.

On Saturday evening, it is hosting a buffet dinner and evening program featuring Bill Johnson and his ministry. He will preach at the 10am Sunday worship service at the church. The public is invited to attend.

The Church is located 1336 Arroyo Ave in San Carlos. It is the oldest protestant congregation in San Carlos, founded in 1928. For more information about the Community United Church of Christ in San Carlos or the upcoming events, visit the website http://www.uccsc.org or call 593-7809.