DURHAM — Katie Ricks closed her eyes, covered her face with her hands and began to cry. But when she removed her hands, all anyone in the sanctuary could see was a smile.
During a hearing Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in Durham, Ricks became the nation’s first openly lesbian minister to be approved for ordination since the church decided in 2011 to allow openly gay individuals to serve in the ministry.
Presbyterian churches in Wisconsin have already approved the ordination of gay men, but Ricks said she is the first openly lesbian minister to be ordained. She will officially become a minister in April.
For 10 years, Ricks has served at the Church of Reconciliation in Chapel Hill as an associate in ministry, a title the church created for her to serve under while avoiding the issue of ordination.
“Essentially, it’s the same position as an associate pastor, but it doesn’t use the term,” she said. “Nor am I allowed to do the things that only ordained ministers are allowed to do, like baptism, communion. I can’t marry somebody, and I can’t moderate session,” she said.
“Those are the only four things that I can’t do,” she said.
Saturday’s vote was taken by secret ballot — an unusual decision for the Committee on Ministry, who oversaw the proceeding.
“It’s important for me to vote my conscience but not be seen publicly as taking a stand because that might interfere with my ability to function, said Jim Henninger, a member of the committee.
Ricks consented to the secret ballot.