WASHINGTON, D.C. – Citing continuing injustices against LGBTQI+ persons who are barred from ordained ministry, the Rev. J. Philip Wogaman, pastor of Foundry United Methodist church between 1992 and 2002, announced today that he voluntarily surrendered his clergy credentials during the clergy session of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference. Rev. Wogaman regularly attends Dumbarton United Methodist Church.

Wogaman, who was ordained 60 years ago, said he made his decision after Foundry member T.C. Morrow’s candidacy was delayed by the conference’s Board of Ordained Ministry during the clergy session. Morrow is a married lesbian. Her candidacy had previously been approved by the 2016 clergy session.

“This case in the Baltimore-Washington Conference has brought home how a gifted person of high Christian character can be excluded from ordained ministry because of bad church law, applied legalistically and hurtfully. This person, and many like her, have been excluded from the company of ordained clergy. I had to ask myself, how can I continue to be a part of that company when such people are excluded,” Wogaman said.

He made his announcement during a moment of personal privilege that he requested from Bishop LaTrelle Easterling during the clergy’s executive session at the start of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference.