Jen Rude is the third generation of social justice pastors in her family. She completed a master of divinity from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, in 2005. She began candidacy process in the Sierra Pacific Synod in April 2004. In 2005, Rude was endorsed by the Extraordinary Candidacy Project (a predecessor organization to Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries) after her ELCA candidacy committee postponed her endorsement decision until after her internship was scheduled to begin.

A month into her internship, Rude's ELCA candidacy committee finally endorsed her. When it was time for approval, Rude's ELCA candidacy committee again told her to wait, indefinitely postponing her because of her principled non-compliance to the ELCA's policy of discrimination. Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries is committed to helping Rude and all the members of the roster do ministry now, as long as the church continues to say "not yet."

Rude is the first openly lesbian or gay minister ordained since the ELCA's biennial assembly, meeting in Chicago in August, declined to change official church policy banning non-celibate gays and lesbians from the ministry but passed a resolution urging bishops to "refrain or show restraint" in disciplining GLBT ministers and congregations that call them.

Technically, there are two "violations" here. Pastor Rude has refused to say she will stay celibate, citing this as "discriminatory." Also, the church didn't follow the established procedure for calling a pastor. The bishop says he personally favors lifting the celibacy rule, but feels honor-bound to uphold the present position of the church.

Heterosexual pastors can marry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Rude said she isn't in a committed relationship now, but remains hopeful about finding a life partner.