The Rev. David Felten, pastor of The Fountains, a United Methodist Church, has been recognized with the 2015 Voice in the Wilderness Award.

The award was presented by The Reconciling Ministries Network, a national advocacy group for the rights of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

According to the network, the award is given for “persons or groups who, despite their isolation in wilderness situations, take risks to proclaim the rightness of inclusion of all persons in the community of the church.”

A Reconciling Congregation since 2013 and a host of regular PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meetings since 2011, The Fountains sees itself as the lone “theological leader” in Fountain Hills speaking for the rights of LGBTQ individuals.

In 2014, Nelda Majors and Karen Bailey, members of The Fountains, were the first couple to receive a same-sex marriage license in Arizona.

Felten supported a non-discrimination ordinance for the Town of Fountain Hills, which was never adopted.

In addition, those supporting Felten’s position felt that an eight-church six-week series targeting Progressive Christianity’s principles was sparked because of controversial comments attributed to him.

In the face of this criticism, the network said Felten has remained determined and is gratified that the publicity surrounding the local theological issues has served to further promote the values of progressive theology to a national audience and beyond.

Felten said regarding the award, “Despite recent victories for marriage equality, there’s still much work to be done in dismantling the discriminatory practices enshrined in our churches, the law, and our culture.”

Felten also is a founding member of “No Longer Silent: Clergy for Justice,” an outspoken voice working for LGBTQ rights both in the church and in the community at large for nearly 20 years.

Felten said he is particularly thankful to the people of The Fountains for their support and encouragement of the work in which he has been involved, adding, “This award is a recognition of the entire Fountains faith community.”