A religious book publisher has become the second Nazarene minister who has been ousted from the denomination in a church trial that is related to a Point Loma minister who also lost his license to preach in 2023 in a similar trial.
A church jury in Idaho voted 6-0 to convict the Rev. Thomas Jay Oord, a prominent theologian and publisher of “Why the Church of the Nazarene Should Be Fully LGBTQ+ Affirming.”
Oord’s case is directly related to the case against the Rev. Dee Kelley III, who lost his credential in August 2023, and his job as senior pastor at First Church of the Nazarene when a church jury convicted Kelley of being “out of harmony” with church doctrine.
Kelley wrote three pages in Oord’s book in which 60 other authors wrote essays about how restrictive policies and condemnation do not help LGBTQ people.
Kelley, who is in his 60s, left the ministry and became a counselor in the Point Loma area. He appealed his conviction to the denomination’s six general superintendents, but his conviction was upheld. The Point Loma church is now led by an associate pastor who worked for the church for many years.
Oord was also convicted of conduct unbecoming of a minister which only involved him publishing books the denomination disapproved of. They also took away his Nazarene membership and minister’s license, but he does not pastor a church.
“Love comes before the law. I don’t think the disciplinary board(jury) was able to grasp the theological arguments that I and my witnesses made,” said Oord afterward.
“Our sincere prayer is that Oord will repent of his heretical teachings…” the jury said in a statement, adding, “Only eternity will show how many souls have been led astray through this false teaching.”
“Their jury statement reveals their biases,” said Oord in an interview afterward.
Oord said he believes love is central to the Christian message: “I’m guilty of aiming to live a life of love. As I see it, loving people affirm LGBTQ identities, orientations, and healthy sexual behavior.”
Oord’s wife acted as his attorney during the two-day trial, which took place in Boise, Idaho because that is near where Oord lives. The jury was flown in and consisted of four Nazarene clergy and two church lay members.
“Despite all the pain and anxiety through this process, one gift is the amazing support to me,” said Oord. “Hundreds and hundreds of queer people and their allies have sent notes of support and gratitude.”
Two LGBTQ people told the jury about the damage anti-gay teaching has done to them. Four theologians also testified as defense witnesses. Oord has written or edited 30 books. He said he doesn’t think the verdict will affect his publishing business.
