A native of Columbus, Ohio, Rev. Elder Darlene Garner was brought up in the National Baptist Church and attended the Episcopal Church before joining Metropolitan Community Church in 1976. She came out as a lesbian in 1973 and joined MCC Washington (DC) in 1976. Darlene served MCCDC as Church Treasurer and Lay Delegate and later served MCC's former Mid-Atlantic District as assistant district coordinator. She was ordained as Metropolitan Community Church clergy in 1988. She has served as the chaplain for an AIDS hospice and as President of the Board of Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry.