Us Church Gets Its First Gay Minister

SUN PRAIRIE: More than two decades after Scott Anderson told his California congregation that he was gay and therefore must resign as its pastor, the Presbyterian Church (USA) is preparing to welcome him back.

Anderson will be ordained on Saturday as the denomination's first openly gay minister.

The 56-year-old Anderson recalled keeping his personal life a secret from 1983 to 1990. He told his congregation the truth and resigned after a couple learned he was gay and tried to use it against him.

"It was the best because I was able to claim for the first time who I was as a gay man. That was incredibly empowering. But there was also the sadness, the grief of leaving the ministry and what I loved," he said.