Ed Hansen, Rel.D.
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ED HANSEN, Rel.D., is a retired United Methodist pastor who has played a leadership role within his denomination to encourage the church to be more welcoming and affirming of its LGBTQ members. In 1965-66, during his fourth year of seminary, he served a one year internship at the Glide Memorial Methodist Church in San Francisco where he worked with young adults and gay hustlers in the Tenderloin and in community organizing related to the federal anti-poverty program. Upon returning to seminary, Ed wrote his dissertation on “The Church’s Ministry with Homosexuals” and proposed that the church offer to marry committed gay couples. Since then and throughout his years as the senior pastor at Hollywood United Methodist Church (1996-2006), Ed has led classes, spoken to groups and organized a “Telling Our Stories” event in support of the welcoming efforts.
