Anita C. Hill
Encyclopedia
Rev. Anita Carol Hill is a pastor
at Saint Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
, (United States
). The congregation is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA). Her ordination
is now recognized by the ELCA. Hill is a lesbian
in a committed relationship, and ELCA guidelines no longer require celibacy
from "ministers who self-identify as homosexuals
." Hill made national headlines in 2001 when she was called and ordained by the congregation in defiance of previous ELCA regulations. She is one of a handful of openly gay and lesbian pastors serving congregations within the ELCA.
Hill was born in 1951, and as a child attended a Roman Catholic church in Shreveport, Louisiana. She spent her high school years in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, where she joined a United Methodist Church. She earned a bachelor's degree in general sciences at Mississippi State University.
Pastor Anita is rostered by Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries
.
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
at Saint Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church
Saint Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church
Saint Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in St Paul, Minnesota. It is part of the Saint Paul Area Synod....
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, (United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
). The congregation is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
(ELCA). Her ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
is now recognized by the ELCA. Hill is a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
in a committed relationship, and ELCA guidelines no longer require celibacy
Clerical celibacy
Clerical celibacy is the discipline by which some or all members of the clergy in certain religions are required to be unmarried. Since these religions consider deliberate sexual thoughts, feelings, and behavior outside of marriage to be sinful, clerical celibacy also requires abstension from these...
from "ministers who self-identify as homosexuals
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
." Hill made national headlines in 2001 when she was called and ordained by the congregation in defiance of previous ELCA regulations. She is one of a handful of openly gay and lesbian pastors serving congregations within the ELCA.
Hill was born in 1951, and as a child attended a Roman Catholic church in Shreveport, Louisiana. She spent her high school years in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, where she joined a United Methodist Church. She earned a bachelor's degree in general sciences at Mississippi State University.
Pastor Anita is rostered by Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries
Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries
Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries , founded on October 31, 2007, is an organization committed to the full participation of persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the life and ministry of the Lutheran church...
.