Baldwin brings gay priest issue to light

A Grand Forks priest went public this Holy Week with her request to the Episcopal bishop of North Dakota for a license to minister here.

An associate professor of religion at UND, the Rev. Gayle Baldwin, 62, was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1980 in North Carolina. Before coming to UND in 2000, she served in several parishes, last in the Wyoming diocese, where she has a license to preach and administer the sacraments.

That’s where she was when she came out as a lesbian a decade ago. She says she’s remained silent for 10 years. But, partly because the issue of gay clergy is dividing the Episcopal Church rather dramatically now, Baldwin decided to press the issue. She issued a letter this week to Episcopal leaders explaining her wish to be licensed in North Dakota.

 Baldwin brings gay priest issue to light
Grand Forks Herald