The Film

What Happened?

Study Guides

The Events On April 28, 2001, Anita C. Hill was ordained a pastor in the Lutheran tradition. This act was contrary to the policy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) against the ordination of otherwise qualified gays and lesbians in committed, same-gender relationships. This was an act of "ecclesiastical disobedience" . . . Over eleven hundred attended the ordination, including 150 members of the clergy. Nationwide mainstream media from the Washington Post to CNN carried news of Anita's ordination. By ordaining Anita, St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church (SPR) faces possible removal from the ELCA. An ELCA bishop from California, Paul Egertson, was asked to resign from office for participating in the ordination. On August 14, 2001, the ELCA in Churchwide Assembly voted to initiate a "study" on the issue of ordination of gay and lesbian pastors in committed, same-gender relationships. The timeline of the study would require a "final" decision in 2005. This "study" was considered by some to be a last ditch effort to keep the ELCA from splitting over this issue. For many gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) activists it was a slap in the face, as the church has been "studying" the topic since the 1970's. History will decide whether the assembly's decisions were a step ahead.

Bios:

Rev. Anita C. Hill

Wingspan Ministry

Aquaries Media