A Lutheran church in St. Paul, Minn., last week bucked the policies of its national denomination by ordaining a non-celibate open lesbian.
Anita Hill was ordained on Saturday, April 28, at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, just down the street from her home parish, St. Paul Reformation Lutheran Church. Four Lutheran bishops helped ordain Hill, in violation of current Evangelical Lutheran Church in America policy, which prohibits the ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians. Those who participated will face discipline from church leaders.
Hill has served as a staff member and pastoral minister at her parish for 18 years. In December, her congregation voted unanimously to call and ordain her.
ELCA is based in Chicago, and about a dozen members of the national staff attended the service in St. Paul.
An estimated 1,000 people attended Saturday's service, more than 200 of them clergy.
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