Panelists included Johnson, the Rev. Dr. Alice Hunt (president of Chicago Theological Seminary), Dr. Riess Potterveld (president of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, Calif.) and Dr. S. Alan Ray (president of Elmhurst College). Approximately 200 people attended the event, including author Michael Schiavi, who gave a lecture on the life of AIDS activist Vito Russo the following afternoon.
Ray spoke about Johnson and his impact on the LGBT community and the wider world. Ray then mentioned the school’s new application for undergrad admissions that asks people their sexual orientation—a first for the country.
Johnson became, in 1972, the first openly gay person in modern history to gain ordination to the mainstream Christian ministry and was also the founder of GALA (Elmhurst College’s gay and lesbian alumni organization). “For four decades Johnson has worked tirelessly and effectively on behalf of the rights and dignity of all people and, in particular, of LGBT people of faith and their loved ones,” said Ray about the guestship. “He has provided counsel and support to hundreds of LGBT seminarians and clergy in the UCC [United Church of Christ] and beyond.”
After accepting a plaque, Johnson said, “I’m still struggling to get my head around the idea that my name will be associated with Elmhurst College in perpetuity through this guestship.” Johnson added, “I am deeply humbled that the annual LGBT guestship at Elmhurst College has been named in my honor. As the LGBT community continues their struggle for full equality in the church, industry and society, visibility and an end to silencing is essential.”
During the panel discussion, Hunt remarked that the Bible is often misused or parts are ignored that don’t fit into their lives and suggests that the Bible is actually silent on homosexuality, as people understand it today. Hunt also said that the UCC has gotten itself on the right side of history and Elmhurst College is “leading the way among undergraduate institutions, a shining light for all to see.”
Potterveld spoke about the changing face of theology to a more diverse membership among clergy within the UCC. This diversity, Potterveld said, was helped in part by people such as Johnson.
All of the panelists said they were hopeful for the future of LGBT equality and acceptance as more people feel comfortable coming out and talking about human sexuality. However, they acknowledged there is still a lot of work to be done in certain sectors of society.
For more information on Elmhurst College visit public.elmhurst.edu.