“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.

Lee Kinney, a pastor from Washington, N.C., said that while he appreciated Ricks’ bravery, he still has concerns regarding her relationship with another woman, with whom she has one child.

“As we look through scripture, into the history of its interpretation, almost universally, across the board, the understanding of same-sex relationships has not been viewed by something as acceptable by God,” he said.

“And the encouragement has always been to turn away from that.”

Ricks’ response to Kinney’s concern left some in tears.

“I know that I did not choose to be gay,” she said.

“The reason why coming out made so much sense was because I could finally claim and grasp onto the beloved child of God that God created when he knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

Ricks’ supporters watched the proceedings from the rafters, where Anne Lutes, a member of the Church of Reconciliation and a close friend of Ricks, described the atmosphere up in the balcony as tense and nervous.

But the atmosphere changed when the motion to ordain Ricks was approved.

“I’m almost speechless,” Lutes said following the committee’s decision. “It’s a new day for the church.”

Desiré Volkwijn, a retired Durham educator who cried when she heard the result, said the day should be seen as a triumph for unity, not uniformity.

“I believe in a God that creates wonderfully different people,” she said. “And different does not mean deficient.”

Julio Ramirez, a Durham resident, declined to share his voting decision and whether he believed the Presbytery had moved in the right direction by approving Ricks.

“Let me put it this way,” he said. “We should continue to let the Holy Spirit help us.”

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