T. PAUL, Minn. -- The congregation of St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church voted December 3, 2000 to approve a resolution to call Anita C. Hill as a pastor of
the congregation. The resolution, passed by a 176 to 0 vote, authorized the
Congregation Council to arrange services of ordination and installation for
Ms. Hill. These services are tentatively set for April 28-29, 2001.
The resolution vote was preceded by the congregation's approval of
Constitutional changes allowing St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church to call
a pastor outside the guidelines of the Evangelical Church in America (ELCA).
These guidelines prohibit the ordination of gay or lesbian pastors
candidates living in committed relationships. Ms. Hill is a lesbian woman in
such a relationship.
"Our journey to this day began more than 18 years ago when this congregation
established Wingspan, a ministry with and on behalf of gay, lesbian,
bisexual and trangender (GLBT) persons," said Paul A. Tidemann, pastor of
St. Paul-Reformation.
"This ministry seeks ways to welcome GLBT people into the church and to
encourage their full participation in the life of the congregation. Full
participation is not possible so long as the ELCA excludes calling and
ordaining qualified gay and lesbian candidates in committed relationships.
Today's vote signals our congregation's commitment to living the Gospel and
ensuring full participation for all its members."
Anita Hill began her ministry at St. Paul-Reformation in 1983 with its
Wingspan ministry; she was named Pastoral Minister in 1994. In May of this
year Ms. Hill received her M.Div degree from United Theological Seminary,
New Brighton, Minn. The Candidacy Committee of the Saint Paul Area Synod of
the ELCA rejected Anita Hill's application to gain committee approval for
call and ordination despite meeting all other requirements under ELCA
guidelines.
"Our process leading to today's decision has been thoughtful and
intentional," said John Whalen, co-president "The path we've taken is
consistent with our understanding of what it means to be Lutheran and our
commitment to inclusive ministry. It is difficult for us as Gospel-driven
Lutherans to invite gay and lesbian persons into a Church which welcomes
them only conditionally as second class members."
St. Paul-Reformation formed a Call and Ordination task force in 1997 to
study the issues, explore the options and engage the congregation and the
council in dialogue and conversation." In January 2000, the Saint Paul Area
Synod Council adopted a resolution from St.-Paul Reformation calling ELCA
leaders to implement a process which would allow exceptions to current
guidelines. This resolution was referred for study in April and denied by
the ELCA Church Council in November.
St. Paul-Reformation sent a letter to the ELCA Church Council before their
November meeting urging them to accept the Synod's resolution for exception.
"We focused the Council's attention on three ideas evangelism, justice and
Gospel," said Tidemann. "We believe these to be compelling reasons to call
qualified gay and lesbian persons to ministry. In the letter we stated that
our request comes from our pastoral concern, our passion for justice and our
theological conscience." The ELCA Church Council's denial of the resolution
closed the door to approving Anita Hill for ordination within the ELCA any
time soon.
In the resolution approved today, the congregation went on record saying we
can no longer, in good conscience, comply with the ELCA's policy because it
is unjust (and) at odds with the message of the Gospel. We take this action
with courage and conviction that it is Gospel-based and at the heart of what
the Lutheran Church has stood for theologically.
Founded in 1883, St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church has been dedicated to
urban, transcultural ministry for more than 115 years. The congregation is a
member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and of its Saint
Paul Area Synod.
Factsheet
St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church
Paul A. Tidemann, Pastor
History:
Founded in 1883 as Memorial Lutheran Church this congregation has been
through some consolidations, the last being a consolidation of St. Paul
Lutheran and Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Reformation to form St.
Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church in 1977. The congregation has been
dedicated to urban, transcultural ministry for more than 115 years. The
congregation is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) and of its Saint Paul Area Synod.
Mission:
St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church reflects the call of the ELCA to be
inclusive in membership and outreach. The ELCA particularly emphasizes
racial diversity, which we affirm (this congregation integrated in 1953).
However, we also extend our mission of inclusivity to other dimensions of
diversity including age, gender, marital or economic status and sexual
orientation, as well as those with disabilities and those who have chronic
diseases (such as AIDS). In 1993, the congregation adopted a long-range plan
focused on four areas of congregational life which included the vision to
have really good worship; to emphasize effective ministry with children,
youth and their
families; to enhance our mission of inclusivity and multicultural ministry;
and to strive for greater internal spiritual and theological growth.
Wingspan Ministry:
Since 1982, the congregation has engaged in a ministry called Wingspan, with
and on behalf of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, their
friends and family members. This ministry has focused on pastoral care,
education and advocacy for justice in church and society.
Anita C. Hill:
Anita C. Hill first joined the staff of this congregation in 1983, working
in its Wingspan Ministry with and on behalf of gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people. In 1994 she was called to the position of Pastoral
Minister which includes a full spectrum of ministry in the congregation,
including preaching, teaching, counseling, worship leadership, outreach and
advocacy work, and sharing ministry with gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people with others on the pastoral staff. Anita Hill received
her Master of Divinity degree from United Theological Seminary, New
Brighton, Minnesota in 2000. She received a Master of Arts in Religious
Education from that seminary in 1987 and a Bachelor of Science degree from
Mississippi State University in 1973. In addition to her work in ministry,
Ms. Hill has served as HIV/AIDS and Anti-Homophobia Educator for Family
Service of St. Paul and as Coordinator of AIDS Ministry for Lutheran Social
Services of Minnesota.
She is an accomplished author and speaker.
