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By PEGGY McGLONE
c. 2011 Religion News Service
NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) Former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey — who famously announced he was “a gay American” when he resigned in 2004 — will not be ordained into the Episcopal Church priesthood in the near future.
McGreevey has completed a master of divinity degree and worked with prison inmates and drug-addicted teens, but was denied in his first bid to become an Episcopal priest, according to the New York Post.
The Post quoted anonymous sources who said church leaders had issues with McGreevey’s bitter divorce, not his homosexuality. McGreevey and his second wife, Dina Matos, endured a contentious and public divorce trial in 2008.
McGreevey, 53, declined to comment on the report. However, he did discuss his ongoing ministry at the Hudson County Correctional Facility, where he works with female inmates preparing for release.
“My work in prison ministry has been a blessing in my life and a source of joy,” said McGreevey, who earned a master of divinity degree from the General Theological Seminary in Manhattan last May. “It’s an opportunity to put to work the lessons I’ve learned in life, and in divinity school, bringing people closer to God in a period of great need.”
Nina Nicholson, a spokeswoman for the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, would also not comment on the published report, saying it is not church policy to discuss an individual’s ordination process.
McGreevey, who lives with his partner, Mark O’Donnell, converted from Catholicism after he left office. He also works at Integrity House, a Newark nonprofit focused on drug addition and runaways. He said “the next chapter” of his life would focus on prison ministry and prison reform.
(Peggy McGlone writes for The Star-Ledger in Newark. Chris Megerian contributed to this report.)
posted April 27, 2011 at 1:42 pm
A man with no character should never be allowed to be a religious leader in any faith.
posted April 27, 2011 at 2:20 pm
It sounds as though he is using his “Master of Divinity” degree the way that leads him, with the Prison Ministry, and the problems that go along with this type of Ministry. Sometimes people deviate from what they thought their goal would be to another path of interest involving something similar. It takes a man of character to know the difference.
posted April 27, 2011 at 3:27 pm
I hope he considers the possibilities and opportunities in the United Church of Christ. Though we do not favor the “bells and smells” and pageantry of the Episcopal church, we are open to all sorts of people who have heard the call to ministry but have been turned away by other groups. There is a lot we have learned and adapted from the other denominations and the folks who have come to us from them.
It seems like this ministry is valuable and he has ben doing it well. Blessings on him and I hope he does find an appropriate authorizing body so his work can continue.
posted May 1, 2011 at 11:47 pm
I’m sure mr. G can give prisoners some points on honesty and honor, – not. Maybe he is a good fit for TEC or UCC, lol