A former Methodist pastor from Philadelphia, who lost her credentials twenty years ago due to a same-sex relationship, found justice as the church reinstated her. This challenges the institution's historical stance on LGBTQ issues. Beth Stroud, once a pastor at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown, has returned to her calling, after a long and contested departure that started not with a whimper, but a bold confession to her congregation in 2003, as reported by 6abc.

The saga began when Stroud publicly acknowledged her relationship, a brave act that led to the loss of her pastoral duties. Her courage didn't go unnoticed, as her church backed her, both emotionally and financially; they even kept her on board as a lay minister following the defrocking. Reflecting on what could've been, Stroud said in an interview with NBC News, "I loved being a pastor. I was good at it. With 20 more years of experience, I could have been very good — helped a lot of people and been very fulfilled."

Despite her ouster and the subsequent struggles that included graduate school, temporary jobs, a fight against cancer, and a divorce, Stroud remained committed to her faith and calling. The church that had once cast her out twenty years prior, finally reversed its decision, though they did not provide overall figures on how many clergy might have been similarly affected or expected reinstatements, according to 6abc.

In a bittersweet turn of events, Stroud’s story of renewal and acceptance back into the folds of the Methodist church might signal a changing tide, though the Church has yet to make a sweeping statement on its stance regarding LGBTQ clergy. Stroud and the First United Methodist Church of Germantown represent, however what could be the start of a new chapter for inclusivity within religious institutions.