adam phillips.jpg

Members of Christ Church Portland pray for pastor Adam Phillips at a recent service.

(Kaitlyn Winn/Christ Church Portland)

A Portland pastor said the Evangelical Covenant Church denomination has kicked his congregation out of its network because of his support for same-sex marriage.

Adam Phillips and his wife moved to Portland from Maryland in August 2013 to start Christ Church Portland under the direction of denominational leaders, who promised to financially support the new church with $150,000 over three years, Phillips said.

The 35-year-old has been open about his belief that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry for years, he said, and leaders knew he wanted to start a church that welcomed LGBT members. He has been an ordained ECC minister since 2008, and involved with the denomination since he was a teen.

"All along the way I've been honest with covenant leaders, and I'd been assured our church family was a safe place to have those convictions," he said.

Phillips said he agrees with the denomination on most issues related to sexuality (that Christians should abstain until marriage and be faithful to their spouse) but believes gay and lesbian couples can have a biblically-sound marriage, too.

Phillips said he was encouraged to keep his convictions quiet, but in recent months has published his thoughts online and met with other pastors who share his convictions.

"The more stories I heard of exclusion--the stories of friends who experienced depression and suicidal thoughts--made me feel like I couldn't be silent anymore," Phillips said.

Last week, after months of pressure from leaders to keep his opinions quiet, Phillips was informed that ECC would cease financial support for Christ Church Portland, the pastor said. He was offered a "modest" severance package, he said, and told the congregation could no longer be part of the ECC network.

Edward Gilbreath, a spokesman for the denomination, confirmed ECC terminated the Portland congregation's funding. He declined to comment on the reasoning, saying it was a personnel matter.

"ECC congregations care about ministering to everyone, including the LGBT community," Gilbreath said. "Decisions on any particular church plant are made between the regional conference and the ECC, taking into account a variety of contributing factors, only one of which is agreement with ECC positions."

The denomination's resolution on sexuality was written in 1996 and has been reaffirmed since:

"God created people male and female, and provided for the marriage relationship in which two may become one. A publicly declared, legally binding marriage between one woman and one man is the one appropriate place for sexual intercourse. Heterosexual marriage, faithfulness within marriage, abstinence outside of marriage--these constitute the Christian standard. When we fall short, we are invited to repent, receive the forgiveness of God, and amend our lives."

First Christian Church in downtown Portland will be hosting Christ Church for the time being, said First Christian pastor Amy Piatt. Phillips launched a crowdfunding campaign Thursday to keep his small congregation afloat.

"Everyone is very heart broken and frustrated by the Covenant's decision, but we feel like we're just getting started," Phillips said.

-- Melissa Binder

mbinder@oregonian.com

503-294-7656

@binderpdx