Leonard Deen Thompson

The following are chapters in my life’s journey as a United Methodist pastor and activist.

Born February 4, 1938, in Eunice, Louisiana. My twin sister Deanna Sue and I were baptized and raised in the Methodist Church. Our baptism was held outdoors under a large oak tree. My parents wanted to welcome all and since in those days Roman Catholics were told not to attend other churches this was how they made it open to all. I was active in my local church and MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship). I felt the call to ministry at a church camp. I graduated from Centenary College and Candler School of Theology.

I was married to Gladys Grantham in 1962 and finished my third year at Candler. I begin serving churches in Louisiana in 1963. I served as the associate pastor at First Methodist Church, Monroe; Wesley United Methodist Church, Sulphur; Oak Park United Methodist Church, Lake Charles; McGuire United Methodist Church, West Monroe; Blackwater United Methodist Church, Baker; and Kenner United Methodist Church.

My family increased and we had three children. I enjoyed my life and my ministry. During my year at Blackwater UMC, I began to question my sexuality. I acted out and made a date with a stranger and he was a policeman. I was arrested. I took a study leave to Vanderbilt Divinity School and sought counseling. My counselor dealt with my pain of losing my family and my ministry. We really did not deal with my homosexuality. The report that he was sending to the Louisiana Conference office stated that the fear and pain that I had of losing my family and ministry would keep me safe to continue my ministry. This is not what happened when I returned to serve Kenner. I was depressed and still did not know who I was or what it really meant being gay. I sought a date and was arrested. The results were that my family was broken, and I was told to surrender my ordination, or I would have to face charges. I surrender my ordination in 1985.

I was alone with no job. My parents wanted me to stay in Louisiana, but I needed to find myself and a job. I moved to Nashville where I had close church friends. Looking for a job was difficult as my education and work experience was only based in religion. After a few months I was offered a job at The Upper Room/General Board of Discipleship. It was office work and I knew how to type from years of typing worship bulletins. In 2001, I retired after sixteen years of working and growing in faith.

I have never left the United Methodist Church. I have lived and ministered in Nashville as a layperson for 40 years. I am a member of a small membership church: Edgehill United Methodist Church. Edgehill Church was established over 50 years ago as the first Methodist church in Tennessee welcoming all races. We are in an area between Vanderbilt University and a public housing development. Neighborhood ministries with children, single mothers, affordable housing, immigration, AIDS, race relations, reconciling ministries, and justice are just a few of our concerns.

Edgehill Church has always celebrated Holy Communion every Sunday. We gather in a Communion Circle. The pastor says: “Everyone has a place at this table.” The congregation proclaims with gusto: “Everyone has a place at this table.” Together we are the church in ministry. Over the years I have held just about every lay position that Edgehill has to offer.

Today I serve as lay leader. I have also become active in the Annual Conference. I have served as a delegate to Annual Conferences for Edgehill UMC and also served representing the District. I have served for several years on the Conference Board of Church and Society. The highest honor is that I have served on the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry as a layperson who happens to be ex-ordained, gay and married. God has used me and blessed me with so many relationships with much diversity. I was also twice elected as an openly gay man to serve as a reserved lay delegate to the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.

My family life is solid and happy. My husband John and I have been together since 1996 and married in Canada in 2007. My relationship with my ex-wife is healthy and together we have both grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I could not ask for a better family relationship than the one John and I have with our family. We enjoy and look forward to every occasion that brings us together.

In 1985 when I surrendered my ordination, I never thought that I would ever seek to have my ordination restored. I worked for years to have The Book of Discipline remove the harmful language of exclusion of LGBTQ members. Worked so that all persons called to ordained ministry be allowed to answer God’s call without any exclusions.

These are chapters of my story but not the whole book. For years, I prayed that the next chapter would include the restoration of my ordination. This would restore blessed memories of the Thompson family’s ministry in the Louisiana Conference.

My prayers were answered at the 2024 General Conference. The harmful exclusive language towards LGBTQ members seeking ordination was removed from The Book of Discipline.

The General Conference also voted to open the doors to all who had their ordination removed due to their sexuality to be able to seek to have their ordination restored. I never dreamed that this would happen. At first, I was fearful to even think about having mine restored. What if I was to be rejected? How would I deal with the pain of rejection? I asked the Edgehill congregation to pray with me. They did and I felt God’s presence and I asked to have my ordination restored. Bishop Delores Williamston of the Louisiana Conference, Rev. Ali Young and the Louisiana Board of Ordained Ministry graciously welcomed me and walked with me on this journey. The 2024 clergy session voted to restore my ordination. The phone call from Bishop Williamston and Rev. Young sharing this news was a gift from God. The cornerstone of God’s calling me into ordained ministry had been restored. God has walked with me every step of my journey. I give God praise and thanks for staying with me and surrounding me with friends and family who have prayed and walked with me.

On the first Sunday of Advent 2024 Bishop Williamston and Rev. Young came to Nashville and Edgehill to worship and formally restore my ordination. Bishop Williamson led me in renewing my vows of ordination and presented me with a beautiful clergy stole. The Edgehill pastor had invited women pastors to fill the pulpit each Sunday in Advent. In his Advent planning he did not know that my bishop would be with us to restore my ordination. The speaker who filled the pulpit was a trans pastor. God has a way of surprising and blessing us. Her presence with us was an act of God making our day like Moses’ burning bush experience. I and all present will never forget it.

My days since having my ordination restored and been enriched in so many ways. I’ve heard from so many around the world who have found their faith/relationship with church and God restored. I never realized nor dreamed that my faith journey would be used by God to touch so many lives. To bring joy, hope and even healing to so many. My prayers are that we will all grow closer to God and to each other as we love and live with God and all our neighbors.

Scripture, Personal Writing, and Quotes that Speak to Me

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. -1 John 5:18

Men and women dress up and speak aloud.
They speak in your name, O Lord,
And say all evil against us.
Did you not know us in our mother’s womb?
Did you not walk with us through the waters of baptism?
Did you not call us by name?
Turn not away from us.
Hold us by your hand,
And walk with us until your kingdom rules
In the hearts of all your creation
Deen Thompson March 28, 2000

Printed on my stole hanging in the “Shower of Stoles”
It is a great tragedy to die
Without knowing who we are.
The greater tragedy is to live
Denying who we are.
-Let Me Say That Again by Maxie Dunnam

(This biographical statement written by Deen Thompson.)

Biography Date: May 2026

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