CHAPEL HILL - Katie Ricks, who has been the associate in ministry at Chapel Hill's Church of Reconciliation for the past 10 years, will be the first openly lesbian candidate to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) since the 2.1-million member denomination opened ordination to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender candidates in July of last year.

“I feel that I am walking into something larger than myself,” Ricks said, in anticipation of her big day on Sunday, April 15, from 2:30 to 4:15 p.m. at University Presbyterian, 209 E. Franklin St.

Chuck Campbell, professor of preaching at Duke Divinity School, who taught at Columbia Theological Seminary when Katie was a student there, will preach the ordination sermon. He also performed the Covenant Union ceremony between Ricks and her partner, Paula, back in 2001.

The Rev. Jim McKinnon, an honorably retired pastor in New Hope Presbytery, will give the charge to the new pastor. Nancy Rozak, Christian educator at Durham's Westminster Presbyterian, will give the charge to the congregation.

Making this special ceremony her own, Ricks has put her own signature on the proceedings. During the service, the ordinand is presented with Symbols of Ministry, stole, robe, chalice and plate. Children from Reconciliation will make these presentations, “because they have been such an important part of [her] ministry.” Her own five-year-old daughter, Jordan, will present the stole to her mother.

Youth from the “Rec” as the church is known in Chapel Hill, will be present and visible during the event. They will process with her at the beginning of the service, because, they, too, have been a significant part of her ministry at the church.

Ricks graduated from Columbia Seminary in 2002. In March, she was named one of the 13 religious women to watch by the Center for American Progress.

An estimated congregation of 400 from around the country is expected to attend the service that will be followed by a reception.

Three openly gay candidates have been ordained since the church made its historic shift in policy, but Ricks is the first openly lesbian candidate who has been approved for ordination.

In late February after New Hope Presbytery voted to approve an openly lesbian candidate for ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament, Ricks said that reaction came from far and wide with Facebook and Twitter lighting up within moments of the decision.

Reaction from within the church was significant, too.

The Rev. Bob Dunham, pastor of University Presbyterian, called the meeting of presbytery the most impressive one he had ever attended.

“For years the Presbyterian Church has debated the question as to whether or not to ordain gays and the question refined into 'Can God call a gay person into ministry?'

“The answer for me,” Dunham said, “is to look at Katie who has carried out her ministry in a most wonderful way at Church of Reconciliation. This is an affirmation of what God has already done with her. She was a model of grace at the [presbytery] meeting, the way she has lived her life. I am grateful the day has come.”

But it was Ricks' own comments about the historic meeting and the historic vote that most folks will remember.

“My lasting memory from that day is the amazing way Presbyterians witnessed to unity,” she said. “It was one of the finest moments of being a part of the Presbyterian Church. People were respectful and honest and compassionate. I am in complete awe, still humbled and overwhelmed.

“Those who as a matter of conscience, could not support my ordination were abundantly gracious and sought ways to make it an opportunity for people to say what they needed to say. It was not so much the vote as the conversation and presence that made me think there is hope that the church can find a way to live into the unity Christ has gifted to us once again.”