On Oct. 8 in Madison, Wis., the Presbyterian Church ordained Scott Anderson as its first openly gay minister, according to On Top Magazine.
Anderson’s ordination happened after the Presbyterian Church (USA), numbering 2 million members, began welcoming non-celibate gay clergy this past summer.
In 1990, Anderson was the head pastor of Bethany Presbyterian in Sacramento, Calif., when two parishioners outed him; soon after, he left the church. Anderson remained active in the church; 10 years ago, he was put on a task force charged with guiding the church while the issue of gay clergy intensified.
The Oct. 8 ceremony “was very healing for me and for many people there,” Anderson told Reuters. “It was very celebratory. Presbyterians don’t cheer very often, but there was some cheering.”
Anderson and partner Ian MacAllister have been together 20 years.