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Minister rebuked over Pride service participation

BBC The Reverend Dr Katherine Meyer - a close up shot where she is looking straight at the camera and smiling. She has long silver-blonde hairBBC
The Reverend Dr Katherine Meyer took part in the event in 2023

A Presbyterian minister has been censured and rebuked by the church for taking part in a Pride church service shown by Irish broadcaster RTÉ.

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) investigated after complaints were made about the Reverend Dr Katherine Meyer's participation in the service.

BBC News NI understands Dr Meyer is also facing a further investigation into complaints that she attended the Dublin Pride parade in 2024.

Dr Meyer is the minister emerita of Christ Church, Sandymount, in Dublin.

"Dr Meyer’s participation in the ‘RTÉ Pride Service – affirming queer worship’ organised by Amach le Dia was unwise and inappropriate," a church court ruled.

"The judicial commission formally rebukes the Reverend Dr Katherine Meyer for her poor judgement and her actions."

The RTÉ Pride church service was broadcast on 4 June 2023 as part of the Irish broadcaster's coverage of Pride events.

It had been organised by Amach le Dia, a group for Christian members of the LGBT community in Ireland.

But three ministers from the Dublin and Munster Presbytery made formal complaints about Dr Meyer's participation in the service.

Judicial commission

Those complaints were investigated and subsequently came before a judicial commission of the Presbyterian Church in Belfast.

A judicial commission is a church court with decision-making powers.

The commission's judgement has been seen by BBC News NI.

As well as a formal rebuke, the judgement said that Dr Meyer had not given "due regard" to "her need to strive to preserve the peace and unity of the Church and especially that of the Presbytery of Dublin and Munster."

"The Judicial Commission strongly urges the Reverend Dr Katherine Meyer not just to accept the fact that this censure has been issued, but to reflect on its meaning and, in so doing, to accept that her judgement and actions were wrong and to desist from such actions and behaviour in the future," the judgement continued.

It also referred to the fact that she had previously been censured as her church had an elder in a same-sex relationship.

When Dr Meyer was contacted by BBC News NI, she said that she preferred not to comment as the church judicial process into the complaint that she had attended the 2024 Dublin Pride parade was ongoing.

Teagan MacAodhagáin Rev Teagan MacAodhagáin in a black and white image, he has short dark hair and wearing a black t-shirt Teagan MacAodhagáin
Reverend Teagan MacAodhagáin said Amach Le Dia received support from a number of different clergy from a number of denominations

In a statement to BBC News NI, a spokesperson from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland said: “Judicial matters in any organisation or context are often sensitive and usually also complex.

"It is rarely appropriate to comment on past findings of the Judicial Commission, and of course it is never appropriate to comment on whether there are fresh issues to be considered.”

The chairperson of Amach Le Dia, the Reverend Teagan MacAodhagáin, said it "had received support from a number of different clergy from a number of denominations and are very grateful for this support and solidarity."

"Amach Le Dia is a small non-denominational group of LGBTQI+ Christians and Allies providing a space for LGBTQI+ Christians to use their God given gifts and talents in service of God and their community," he said.

"We were approached by RTÉ and asked to lead a Service, which aired for Pride in 2023, and Reverend Dr Katherine Meyer did attend that service.

"Any suggestion that a widely respected and honourable minister, like Reverend Dr Katherine Meyer, would receive such a backlash for attending a church service demonstrates the profound and piteous need for Amach Le Dia to exist to provide a place for people not accepted within the wider church community."

Pastor Steve Ames Pastor Steve Ames, who is wearing a blue and white paisley print button shirt with a white stole over his neck, hands an older man wearing a flat top hat and light coloured suit jacket a small red cup. They are stood outside a white stone building beside a sign that says 'The church supports marriage equality'.Pastor Steve Ames
Pastor Steve Ames (left) questioned the church's decision over Dr Meyer

Pastor Steve Ames from Harbour Faith Community in Carrickfergus and Inclusive Faith, an all-island group for those who support LGBT Christians, said the organisation was "beyond disappointed" at Dr Meyer's treatment.

"It seems that mainline Christian denominations in Ireland are intent on making LGBT+ Christians feel unwelcome," Pastor Ames added.

"Thankfully, there are a few courageous ministers such as Reverend Meyer who are actually trying to extend the hand of friendship towards LGBT people of faith in spite of the church’s 'official position'."