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More About Me
So you're ordained!
Yes! I received my Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a B.A. in Jewish Studies from Colby College. I was ordained by the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2023. Now I am a solo pastor at West Trenton Presbyterian Church, where I lead worship, provide pastoral care, and run community programming and education.
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And you're queer?
Also yes! I'm queer and trans/non-binary. I was one of the first out non-binary people to be ordained in the PC(USA), and the first ordained in the Presbytery of the Coastlands. I am incredibly grateful to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community and to be able to bring my identity to my work and ministry.
My Story
I never imagined I would become a pastor. I grew up in rural New Hampshire as a homeschooled evangelical kid, in a church community where only men could be pastors. Women could not be church leaders, and queer people were only spoken about in whispers or in sermons warning us against sin. As a young person, I didn't even know trans people existed.
When I went to college, I found myself most interested in psychology and religion classes. I decided to pursue a degree in Jewish Studies, which took me to a semester studying in Jerusalem and a passion for biblical Hebrew. It also led me to collaborative projects with local clergy, where for the first time, I saw women and queer people leading congregations and doing meaningful, important work in their communities.
Tori's baptism, 2009
Because of those courageous queer leaders, I realized a different life than I imagined was possible. I attended Princeton Theological Seminary with a dream to become a pastor. I found a home in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), where I was welcomed as a queer and trans person, where I could lead with integrity to my values and beliefs--my commitment to social justice, to contextual readings of Scripture, and to holding tradition and progress hand in hand.
Now I have the privilege of spending my days doing what I love: writing about old stories in new ways, preaching and leading worship, and caring for God's people--all people.
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