Obituary - Rev. Roberto González (1945 - 2024)

It is with deepest sympathy that we regret to inform you of the passing of our Beloved Brother, Rev. Roberto González, which took place last Monday, April 8, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

González was religiously formed in the Methodist Church. He worked in his youth for the Salvation Army where he was a Captain, having extended his field of action to Paraguay. He had two children, María Isabel and Francisco -a product of his first marriage - who left him three grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

Later he studied at the ISEDET (Evangelical Institute of Higher Theological Studies), based in Buenos Aires, where despite the opposition he encountered due to his theological positions, he was able to finish his studies.

In 1987, on his birthday, he founded the Metropolitan Community Church of Argentina after receiving a call from an MCC minister John Doner (with husband Pepe Hernández). Roberto was pastor of that church until 2005, while he was also Associate Pastor of MCC in New York in 2007.

Parallel to his activity as a clergy, González developed activist work with the LGBT community around him, mainly facing the Roman Catholic Church for homophobic events that led to public protests and establishing alliances with other human rights organizations, and notably, to achieve the support of other churches for the end of violence and discrimination against gender diversity, the promotion of equal marriage, respect for trans people, and other related topics. This resulted in Argentina finally addressing the rights of LGBTIQA+ people including marriage. This advocacy had a great echo in the diverse Argentine society, for which Roberto has been a reference in several ways.

A highly esteemed person in clerical and lay circles within MCC, González always showed great eloquence, passionate positions on an inclusive, radically loving Divinity that permanently embraces Diverse Creation.

After participating for several years in the local MCC that operates in the Flores Methodist Church in CABA, the pastor fell ill and was hospitalized for several months, and after complications of his condition, he passed away at 8AM on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Our prayers of comfort and strength for his widower, Pastor Norberto D' Amico, his children, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter, as well as for the congregation he loved so much and now mourns his departure. Thanks be to God for his fruitful life and work.

Read More: Pagina 12 - "Adiós al pastor gay Roberto González, referente histórico lgbti"