Several years before the Episcopal Church USA became the first mainline Christian denomination to ordain an openly gay bishop in 2003, before the Presbyterian Church USA and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America agreed to ordain gay clergy, and before the Episcopal Church USA approved a plan to conduct same-sex blessings, an Oklahoma City pastor founded a church designed to welcome the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

It was 1997 when the Rev. Kathy McCallie withdrew from the United Methodist denomination because of its refusal to allow her to perform same-sex weddings. Her decision was considered controversial in many quarters.

McCallie left her post as pastor of Epworth United Methodist Church and founded Church of the Open Arms, now at 3131 N Pennsylvania. It became one of the first metro-area churches to emphasize an intentional welcome to LGBT individuals.

On Sunday, McCallie will step down as senior pastor of the church she founded 16 years ago. She said she is leaving for Tulsa, where she will become assistant professor of ministerial leadership and ethics and director of the doctor of ministry program at Phillips Theological Seminary.