MARGATE, P.E.I. — At Saturday’s Pride Parade in Charlottetown, Rev. Pix Butt will be proudly walking alongside other members of LGBT community.
Butt, the first openly lesbian minister in the United Church of Canada (UCC) on P.E.I., has been ministering the Princetown United and the Southriver United Church of the Margate Pastoral Church since 2015.
Butt witnessed the start of Pride Week on P.E.I. when it began 25 years ago and has watched the event evolve ever since.
“I saw it when it first started, as a teacher (at the time) and I’m blown away from how it’s grown. It’s become such a festival, with people on the side, waving flags and cheering and being supportive. It’s terrific.”
When the Margate Pastoral Charge asked Butt to become its minister four years ago, she recalls being surprised that a small congregation in rural P.E.I. would be so accepting.
“They gave me a call, and I had been out (as gay) since I was ordained in 2004. I take my hat off to these people, they have embraced me at this church. That’s a lovely thing to see,” said Butt.
She has been a life-long church person, but really came back to the faith in the mid-1990s, when the United Church of Canada was becoming a more accepting establishment.
“I’m from an age where being out wasn’t always advantageous or wise, but our church has been welcoming for a long time. In 1988, UCC decided to ordain gay and lesbian people, so anyone who was out and wanted to be a minister could become one.
"It caused quite the stir at the time.”
Many places of worship aren’t at the point of welcoming everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, said Butt.
“There are lots of people who feel left outside of the church. Lots of people whose memory of the church from their childhood might not be appealing.”
Not every church tries to find a way to have a common vision, but it’s important to be the image of an inclusive church.
“We try to be a strong, welcoming place in the community, trying to be a place of welcome for all people,” said Butt.
Joyce Bryenton, a member of the Princetown United Church for 55 years, said Butt has been a blessing to their community.
“She meets all the needs of our congregation. She's gifted relating to all ages and she seems to have unlimited amounts of energy. It’s been very good, and we’ve truly been blessed to have her.”
Bryenton was a part of the search committee that found Butt, and said that her sexual orientation wasn’t a concern.
“Around the table, it wasn’t an issue at all. Rev. Pix has done exceedingly well. She has totally gone above and beyond anything we’ve ever asked of her.”
At the beginning weekend of Pride week, Butt led a Pride service at the Princetown United Church in Malpeque, where she spoke of love and acceptance.
“We hold one every year, and there’s such an easy feeling about it. It’s filled with love and support – having our flags up."
Despite the progress that’s been made over the years, people can still be close-minded, and Butt tries to combat these views with the lessons from the Bible.
“I just try and follow the teachings of Jesus, who made it clear that everyone I loved, even the outcasts of his days, were given a message of inclusion.”
In a statement made in 2015, Bryenton recalls how Butt has made an impact in their community.
“’Her spirit of celebrating every day and share the light of God that shares this light she’s met. She reminds us we are the church; she has a great gift of inviting all of us to explore their own inner light of hope, love, and respect.’ I wrote that back then after Pix was with us for six months, and she’s continued to amaze.”
