SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 News) —  The First Openly Lesbian Bishop in the United Methodist Church conducted services for the first time in Utah this morning in Salt Lake City

Bishop Karen Oliveto previously served as senior pastor of the twelve thousand glide memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco for years before getting transferred to the Church’s mountain sky area which included Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. She shared during the service means in terms of acceptance.  

“What it does is that it offers people hope to all of us. No matter who we are, no matter what our status is. And God Needs us to build his beloved community to every people. And it includes gay and lesbian members”, Oliveto told ABC4. 

Bishop Karen Oliveto says she has recieved letters from LGBT people around the world who say it’s inspiring to have someone that shares their identity be a positive light to others. Her wife, Robin is a deaconess in the United Methodist Church.