Three days ago Reverend Jen Rude was ordained in the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL. For members of some faiths, having a female leader of a religious congregation is "different" enough - but the issues don't stop there. Rude is a lesbian - and more importantly to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), she refuses to take a vow of celibacy.
Interestingly, 27-year-old Rude comes from a family of faith; both her father and grandfather are Lutheran ministers. In that environment it is easy to see why a child - of either sex or sexual orientation - would be stirred to join the clergy.
The question now is whether other individuals and organizations will use this as ammunition against Rude, the Lutheran church, or Christians in general. Personally I have concerns not about Rude's sex life or potential relationships, but about the division the issue could cause within the denomination and in the Church (ie the Christian church as a whole - all denominations included). It's wonderful that members of her congregation have chosen to support her, but will they come under fire - verbal or otherwise? With the number of hate crimes committed in a year, I would worry more for the safety of a religious leader in a situation like this than I would about who she may or may not date.
One thing I don't see mentioned in the article I read is the possibility that the Reverend may choose to be celibate. After all, just because a person refuses to take a vow of celibacy doesn't mean they won't be celibate by choice. Perhaps Rude is simply being smart to hedge her bets, in case and until she meets Ms. Right.
Point to ponder, eh?
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