About : Our Leadership : Rev. Eknes-Tucker
Rev. Eknes-Tucker is the Senior Pastor At All God's Children MCC in Minneapolis.
He arrived in October, 2001. As pastor of the largest GLBTQ congregation in the upper Midwest, Rev. Eknes-Tucker is among the leaders of the GLBTQ community. He is a member of the chaplain corp. for the Minneapolis Police Department and serves on various community boards and organizations.
Previous to coming to Minnesota, he served as Pastor of Congregational Care at Cathedral of Hope (COH) in Dallas, Texas. In the twelve years on staff at COH (a 3200-member predominantly GLBT church), he oversaw the COH AIDS ministries which served over 800 persons each year, developed a Christian Counseling Center that serves the needs of the lesbian and gay community, developed Hope House, a transitional living program for gay/lesbian teens and young adults, oversaw the Cathedral's world missions, and developed a Spanish-language worship service and outreach. A graduate of Birmingham Southern College (B.A.) and Candler School of Theology (M.Div), Rev. Eknes-Tucker served as a United Methodist clergyman in the North Alabama Conference before coming out as a gay man and joining the ministry of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) in 1981. Rev. Eknes-Tucker has pastored MCC congregations in Birmingham, AL, Atlanta, GA, Asheville, NC, and Nashville, TN, Dallas, TX before becoming Senior Pastor at All God's Children MCC.
Education
| 1975-1978 |
Birmingham-Southern College Birmingham, Alabama Degree: Bachelor of Arts cum laude
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| 1978 - 1980 |
Candler School of Theology, Emory University Atlanta, Georgia Degree: Master of Divinity
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Pastoral Experience |
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| June 2002 - Present |
All God's Children MCC Minneapolis, Minnesota Position: Senior Pastor Came to AGC as an Interim Pastor in October, 2001. Congregation called me as permanent Senior Pastor in Spring of 2002. Installed in June, 2002.
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| Sept 1989 - June 2002 |
Cathedral of Hope Dallas, Texas Position: Pastor of Congregational Care
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| March 1983 - Sept 1989 |
Metropolitan Community Church of Nashville Nashville, Tennessee Position: Pastor Church doubled in size during my pastorate to become the largest congregation in the GLAD District. Supervised one staff clergy. Helped start the first AIDS service organization in the city, Nashville CARES.
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| July 1981 - Feb 1983 |
Metropolitan Community Church of the Blue Ridge Asheville, North Carolina Position: Pastor First resident pastor for this new church. Moved them to permanent meeting space. Congregation grew from 15 to over 40 members. Started first jail ministry to Gay/Lesbian inmates in the Asheville-Buncombe County Jail.
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| Jan 1981 - June 1981 |
Covenant Metropolitan Community Church Birmingham, Alabama Position: Founder/Pastoral Leader Founding pastor for the present congregation. Served the congregation from Atlanta (in seminary) until they were strong enough to hire a resident pastor.
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| June 1976 - Aug 1978 |
Fairmont United Methodist Church Birmingham, Alabama Position: Pastor |
Other Information
Born and raised in Birmingham, AL, I grew up in the United Methodist Church. I began my professional clergy service as a Methodist. Coming to grips with my sexuality at the age of 19, I began searching for a place where God could use me where I could also have integrity about my sexual orientation. That was when I found MCC in Birmingham. I have served continuously as a pastor for 27 years.