Rev. Amanda Gerken-Nelson Photo

Rev. Amanda Gerken-Nelson Photo

Queer Spirit Podcast

Rev. Amanda Gerken-Nelson is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, a non-profit that believes the public witness of LGBTQIA+ ministers transforms the church and enriches the world. In this work Amanda has the unique privilege of traveling around the country to encourage and support the 400+ LGBTQIA+ pastors who are transforming the face of the church.
Prior to her work with Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries Amanda pastored a Lutheran congregation East Hartford, Connecticut. A graduate of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California, Amanda grew up on the East Coast and considers herself a true New Englander at heart. On a more personal note, Tamara Torres-McGovern, the co-host of Queer Spirit, happily adds: “I’m lucky that she not only came back to the North East, but that she moved to Maine and, on top of that, she and her wife Tasha became my neighbors!”

Marvin Ellison and Tamara Torres-McGovern

Rev. Amanda Gerken-Nelson