How we met: Elizabeth and Ruth Jensen-Forbell

Don Burk/The Times-Union

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In celebration of this month’s I Heart Issue, skirt! asked couples to submit stories about how they met or became engaged.

By SARA CONRAD
The Times-Union

Elizabeth and Ruth met at church in the mid 1980s and have been together for more than 20 years. They currently work at First Coast Metropolitan Community Church, where Ruth is the founding pastor and Elizabeth is the founding administrator.

Here’s how they remember their meeting.

Elizabeth Jensen-Forbell’s recollection: “Ruth and I met approximately 1985 when she was a congregant in Metropolitan Community Church in Jacksonville and just exploring her call to the ministry. We had mutual friends over the years, but didn’t actually consider dating until 1987. … And even then it took three tries before I said 'yes’ when Ruth asked me out.

“Ruth was just beginning her teaching career then, and I encouraged her to once again enter the student clergy program at the church.

“Fast forward many years, and we’re in ministry together. I celebrate 20 years as a church administrator this year, and she has been a full-time pastor for more than 12 years … .

“We had a Holy Union ceremony at Metropolitan Community Church in Jacksonville in 1988, but in 2005 we were legally married in Canada. While we celebrate the 'legal’ ceremony date, it’s the 1988 'church’ ceremony that means the most to us.”

Ruth Jensen-Forbell’s recollection: “She said 'yes’ the third time I asked her out. We met at church. The first time [I asked her out] at church and then we were playing phone tag and left messages. I don’t know what finally got her to say 'yes’; it might have been friends. It was over the phone and we set up the first date for dinner and a movie. It wasn’t the movie I planned for it to be — the times were wrong and we ended up seeing 'Fatal Attraction.’ …

“We dated for a while. I asked her to marry me and I think she was upset at first because I said 'I have something I want to ask you’ and she said, 'I’ll let you know’ and the next Sunday in church she handed me a gold heart that said 'yes’ [on it].

“The legal marriage in Canada was really nice, but we made our commitments before God [at the union ceremony] which was more important to us.

“I was on the radio and talking about not settling for less in a partner. I sat down and made a list with traits, like honest person, church being important and liking animals, and I didn’t settle till I found Elizabeth and she met every single one [of the traits]. I thought I’d rather be alone than settle for less with a partner.”