The Rev. Dr. Joanne Carlson Brown is a United Methodist minister currently serving in the Pacific Northwest Conference. Combining ministry and academics, she has a BA degree from Mount Holyoke College (1975), the first institution of higher education for women founded by Mary Lyon in 1837 - a very important formative aspect in Joanne’s life; an M.Div. degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (1978) in Evanston, Illinois, where she was co-convenor of the women’s caucus at a time when women were first coming into seminaries in significant numbers. While at G-ETS, Joanne was active in the protest surrounding the G-ETS policy banning "self-avowed homosexuals" from attending the school and when two students were dismissed in 1978 for being openly gay. Her Ph.D. is from Boston University (1983) in historical theology and church history.
Dr. Brown’s historical work has been in Methodist studies, but she has lectured and published extensively on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues within Methodism and general church history. Her ground-breaking essay critiquing the concept of the atonement, co-authored with Rebecca Parker, "For God So Loved the World?" in her co-edited book, Christianity, Patriarchy and Abuse (Pilgrim Press, 1989), has had a wide impact, especially in feminist theology.
Joanne was among the early members of Affirmation, United Methodists for LGBT Concerns and served on the national board as well as being active in local chapters. She is also a regional contact for Christian Lesbians Out Together (CLOUT).
Joanne was the first openly gay or lesbian person to be ordained by the United Methodist Church. Bishop Melvin Wheatley ordained her in the Rocky Mountain Conference in June, 1982. Her ordination was appealed to the denomination's Judicial Council. Its subsequent ruling that there was nothing in the UMC Discipline, i.e., church law, barring lesbian or gay ordination resulted in the restrictive legislation adopted by the United Methodist General Conference in 1984.
Joanne currently lives in University Place, Washington with her wonder Westie, Ceilidh.
(This biographical statement provided by Joanne Carlson Brown.)