Chapter History

The founder of Dignity Twin Cities was Fr. Henry LeMay, who met with eight other people in a conference room at the Thunderbird Motel, Bloomington, MN on October 26, 1974 in an initial organizing meeting. Fr. LeMay was based in Granite Falls, MN, and after that meeting began driving the 300 mile round trip on a regular basis.

From 1976 until June, 1987, the Chapter met at the now closed Newman Center at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis campus. In June, 1987, the Archdiocese of Minneapolis/ St. Paul, at the direction of Archbishop John Roach, refused to renew the Chapter’s lease. He had requested that Dignity sign a statement that it agreed with official Church teaching as a condition of its lease at the Newman Center. Church teaching on gays and lesbians had stated in a letter from the Congregation on the Doctrine of the Faith in October, 1986, that gays and lesbians were “objectively disordered.” When Dignity Twin Cities refused to sign the statement requested by the Archbishop, he refused to renew the lease Dignity had held at the Newman Center for 11 years.

When Dignity lost its lease at The Newman Center, it filed a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Minneapolis /St. Paul under the Minneapolis Civil Rights Ordinance, claiming that it had been denied public accomodations on the basis of sexual orientation, which is prohibited under the ordinance. In 1990 the Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission issued a judgement against the Archdiocese, ordering it to pay punitive damages, lawyers fees, and a civil fine, totaling over $33,000. The Archdiocese appealed the decision, and the judgment was overturned by the Minnesota State Court of Appeals on 1991.

Between 1987 and 1994, the Chapter rented space first at the Lutheran / Episcopal Center, across the street from the Newman Center, then moved to the United Campus Ministries Center. Since 1994 the Chapter has met at Prospect Park United Methodist Church where it has been warmly welcomed by the staff and congregation.

After the Chapter’s exile from Catholic meeting space in 1987, liturgies evolved to include both ordained and non-ordained celebrants, both male and female. These changes were the source of much controversy and division within the Chapter. Dignity Twin Cites, like Dignity USA, is committed to complete equality of women within the Chapter, the Church, and society as a whole. We expect our presiders to use inclusive language, and welcome the chance to have women ordained in other Christian traditions lead us in prayer at our alternative liturgies.

For the first several years of its existence, Dignity Twin Cities numbered about 15 to 20 members. By 1979, the Fifth Anniversary, we had grown to 50 to 60 members. At the time of its eviction from the Newman Center, membership peaked at 100. At the time of the Fifteenth Anniversary in 1989, membership was hovering once again between 50 and 60. Due to a variety of factors, including a move away from a parish model of chapter and towards alternative liturgies, by 1994 membership was hovering near 40. Since then we have had between 20 and 30 members at any given time. Between 15 and 25 people attend most of our liturgies.

At this time the Chapter has evolved into a basic christian community, similar to those found throughout Latin America. We come together to pray, and reflect on Scripture. We talk about what is important in our lives, and what the Gospel has to say to our reality. We have evolved into a small group, always open to newcomers, that provides spiritual and emotional support to its members, as we struggle to change our Church and our world.