Gay ordinations have dominated the debates prior to this election. Bishop Mark S. Hanson made it by 34 votes out of over a thousand votes with a national membership of 5.1 million, Chicago-based. It ranks fifth among U.S. Protestants. It will be a six-year term. Hanson's synod petitioned the assembly to allow ordination of actively gay clergy and asked the national church council to allow an exception to ordain Anita Hill, who has a lesbian partner and led a gay and lesbian ministry for two decades in St. Paul. She is no relation to "the" Anita Hill. Another sword through the church. Many members are not rejoicing and will probably find themselves having to leave their congregations. [ Charisma Magazine, June 2001, p.82]

"This way of speaking fast and loud, Glory picked up in the U.S.A." states a former Lutheran who married a Pentecostal musician. "I am a 100 percent evangelist," Backman says. "I love campaign preaching, and signs and wonders." Floored in Helsinki: Backman wants to reach her nation - and the world. [ Charisma Magazine, June 2001 p.74 ]