OBITUARY Gina Lynn Chapman September 26, 1948 – August 6, 2018 Reverend Gina Lynn (Kangas) Chapman, passed away, surrounded by friends and loved ones, on Monday, August 6, 2018 at 7:35 pm at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, Whittier, CA. She is survived by Debbie McCollum, her partner of 11 years. Born September 26, 1948 in Bon Air Hospital, Los Angeles CA, Gina was the daughter of Helen and Merle Kangas and predeceased by them.
She attended the Lutheran Church and elementary schools in her hometown of Inglewood, CA and was a1966 graduate of Los Angeles Lutheran High School. She was employed by Pacific Telephone Company for many years while simultaneously studying to be a minister. Chapman began her ministry to AIDS patients in 1981, when a deacon at the Metropolitan Community Church in Los Angeles.
In a time before there was even a name for this disease, Gina was a community activist known for hugging dying people others condemned and refused to touch. Upon completing the ministerial program at Samaritan Seminary in Los Angeles and student clergy internship at Metropolitan Community Church (now known as Founders MCC), Los Angeles, Reverend Chapman was ordained as a minister in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches. Of God’s servant, MCC Rev Elder Nancy Wilson wrote “Gina and I founded a Women’s Prison Ministry together in the early 80’s, before I was pastor of Founder’s MCC; when I became pastor in 1986, she was student clergy there, then answered the call to Good Sam MCC.
She was all heart”. Late in her telephone company career, upon completion of her religious studies, and ordination, Reverend Chapman took an early retirement to spend more time in her ministerial service. She especially enjoyed singing in the church choir, reading and studying.
In 2006, she received the honored Community Partnership Award from Whittier Rio Hondo AIDS Project. Among her awards and honors, this was one of Reverend Gina’s most prized. Pastor Gina has been the beloved minister of Good Samaritan Metropolitan Community Church in Whittier, CA from 1991 until her passing.
Her love and guidance will be greatly missed by each of her congregants. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 13th at 2:00 pm followed by a reception and will take place for Reverend Gina at Waverley Chapel at Fairhaven Memorial Park, 1702 Fairhaven Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Good Samaritan Metropolitan Community Church, 10820 Beverly Blvd A5PMB, Whittier, CA 90601-2576.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
