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On Saturday, April 15, Katie Ricks will become the first openly lesbian minister ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). In May of 2011 the 2.1-million member denomination voted to allow openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, including those in same-sex relationships, to be ordained as ministers, elders, and deacons.
A 2002 graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary, Rev. Ricks has served for the last 10 years as an Associate in Ministry for the Church of Reconciliation in Chapel Hill. She has been waiting for a decade to be ordained.
Rev. Ricks was recently named among the “13 Religious Women to Watch in 2012″ by the Center for American Progress.
Since coming out in seminary in 2002, Ricks has joined the ranks of gay and lesbian faith leaders who have used both prayer and reason to be recognized as authentic spiritual leaders in the church.
“I feel that I am walking into something larger than myself. It is both a joy and a responsibility. I am thankful to my community for supporting me on this journey and for affirming my call,” Ricks is quoted as saying in anticipation of her ordination.
Since the ordination policy change went into effect in July of 2011, the PC(USA) has ordained three gay men, Scott Anderson, Scott Clark and Paul Mowry. Katie Ricks will be the first lesbian.
An estimated 400 people from around the country are expected to attend the service, which will take place at University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina starting at 2:30 pm.
Related:
* Celebrating the opening of the Presbyterian ordination process to openly LGBT people
7 Comments
I guess I am left thinking “OK, this is good” except for the fact that it is not clear why everyone should be thrilled that such backwards organizations are still alive at all. I mean, ultimately, organized religion is probably the biggest scam in human history in the sense that it is a way to get people to order and behave, and to economically elevate priests, based on a framework of myths and superstition. Christianity assuredly is included in this mix. Jesus probably never existed, the Romans certainly made no mention of him.
So, great that a gay person got ahead in a backwards organization, but wouldn’t we all be better off trying to contain and reduce the power of organizations that oppose the teaching of basic modern knowledge out of fear.
Though I have no use for religion, kudos go to the Presbyterian church for this. I guess there are some Christians left for whom “following Christ” doesn’t include selectively enforcing Leviticus.
sixgill, as an atheist I have to say that I cringe when I read comments like yours because I like atheism to be associated with reason, not stereotyping and ignorance. A phrase like “organizations that oppose the teaching of basic modern knowledge out of fear” has no place in a reasoned, respectful discussion or, frankly, on this blog.
Because of this change, the Presbyterian Church in my community left the Presbyterian USA body. When they did this I believe they ceased to be a church and decided to be little more than private club. I was born into this church and the only thing I think, is what took them so long? Any church that is not inclusive to everyone misses the whole point, no matter what other good they may do.
Yeah, I cringed a bit too and for similar reasons but I’ve promised myself to try to be less critical. I think you said it best though. I had a co-worker ask the other day how come I wasn’t an atheist like Madalyn Murray O’Hair. I shudder that to so many people, O’Hair’s is still the personality they associate with American Atheism.
It’s not so different than people associating Michele Bachmann or Rick Santorum or Pat Robertson with Christianity. The people who make the most noise are seen as fair representatives of their tribe by others, even if it isn’t true.
I am very excited to here that the presbyterian church will ordain a lesbian church, I hope that this will continue.