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Jeanne Barnett and Ellie Charlton papers
MS0006
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Title: Jeanne Barnett and Ellie Charlton papers
Dates: 1952-2008, (bulk 1999-2003)
Collection Number: MS0006
Creator/Collector:
Barnett, Jeanne
Charlton, Ellie
Fado, Don
Extent:
2 linear feet
(3 boxes)
Repository:
Center for Sacramento History
Sacramento, California 95811
Abstract: The Jeanne Barnett and Ellie Charlton papers relate to the
Holy Union Service performed at the Sacramento Community Theater on January 16,
1999. The files are divided into five series: Series 1. Holy Union, Series 2.
Personal, Series 3. Photographs, Series 4. Artifacts, and Series 5. Oversize. Within
the collection are correspondence (letters, cards, and printed e-mails), newspaper
articles, photographs, audio and video tapes, lapel pins, buttons, badges,
scrapbooks, plaques, ephemera, personal information, promotional material, material
relating to Jeanne Barnett's memorial service, and two purple jackets worn at
the Holy Union Service. The Oversize series contains newspaper and magazine articles
relating to the Holy Union service. Some material provided dates; for other material
the date is unknown.
Language of Material: English
The collection is open for research.
[Identification of item], Jeanne Barnett and Ellie Charlton papers, MS0006, Center
for Sacramento History
Acquired from Ellie Charlton, 2009 (Accession #2009/007).
Biography/Administrative History
The United Methodist Church amended their Social Principals in 1996 to say that same
sex union shall not be conducted by Methodist clergy. In 1998 the church further
ruled that clergy could be held accountable for conducting same sex unions and could
be dismissed from the ministry. Jeanne Barnett and Ellie Charlton had been together
for fifteen years and were both active members of the United Methodist church;
Barnett had been elected lay leader of the regional conference, the highest elected
(and clerical) position in the conference, and Charlton served as a member of the
conference board of trustees. Together, they started an after-school program at
their local church. Their Holy Union was performed in Sacramento in January 1999 and
was coordinated by Rev. Don Fado, who asked more than 100 retired or
near-to-retirement clergy in the conference if they would stand with him to perform
the service. The service may have been an act of ecclesiastical disobedience for the
approximately 68 clergy involved, but Fado felt he was, in fact, being obedient to
his calling in uniting this couple.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Jeanne Barnett and Ellie Charlton papers consists of two linear feet. The Holy
Union Series contains e-mail correspondence in preparation for the service, the
service's invitation and program, and congratulatory greeting cards. The folder
"Church Involvement" contains a history of homosexuality/homophobia
compiled by the California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church,
correspondence, meeting minutes, and newsletters outlining the background of the
Sacramento St. Mark's United Methodist Church's position on the issue of
Holy Union services for same-gender couples, and documents relating to the
"Sacramento 68" clergy who participated in the Holy Union, including
"Why We Officiated at a Service of Holy Union" and an edited version of
the oral statement given by Rev. Don Fado to the Committee on Investigation in
2000.
The Personal Series consists of individual information for both Jeanne Barnett and
Ellie Charlton, including Charlton's marriage announcement and divorce
agreement, Barnett's birth and death certificates, a dissolution of property
agreement for Barnett and Charlton, articles for publications written by Barnett and
by Charlton, information on the Lazarus Award presented to Barnett, and cards of
consolation written following Barnett's death. An additional folder contains
information about the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Holy Union after
Barnett's death. Also included are materials relating to traveling the two women
did together and for a house concert performed by Judy Fjell in 1986.
The Oversize series contains newspaper and magazine articles relating to the Holy
Union and same sex marriage.
The Artifacts Series is composed of a scrapbook (containing memorabilia from travels
and events attended), audio and video tapes, lapel pins, buttons, badges, a plaque
presented to Barnett and Charlton from the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center, the
Lazarus Project plaque presented in 2000, and the 1994 Bishop's Award presented
to Barnett by the United Methodist Church, San Francisco Area California-Nevada
Conference.
The Photographs Series contains photographs from the Holy Union service and
reception, and photos of the activities outside the Sacramento Community Theater;
photographs from Barnett's church memorial service and reception; and various
photographs of the two women.
Same-sex marriage
Methodist Church