{{Short description|Bishop (born 1972)}} {{distinguish|Jennifer Nagel}} {{Multiple issues| {{notability|1=Biographies|date=August 2025}} {{No significant coverage|date=August 2025}} }} {{Infobox Christian leader | honorific-prefix = The Reverend | name = Jennifer Nagel | title = Bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA | image = Jen Nagel Acceptance.png | caption = Jen Nagel shortly after being elected, 2024 | elected = May 4, 2024 | ended = | predecessor = Ann Svennungsen | successor = | ordination = 2008 | other_post = Pastor at University Lutheran Church of Hope, Pastoral Ministry (later Pastor) at Salem English Lutheran Church | birth_name = | birth_date = March 16, 1972 | birth_place = New Ulm, Minnesota | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | nationality = | religion = Lutheran | residence = | parents = | spouse = Rev. Jane McBride | children = 2 | occupation = Bishop | alma_mater = {{unbulleted list |University of Chicago Divinity School|Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago|Concordia College|University of St. Andrews-St. Mary’s School of Divinity<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mpls-synod.org/our-synod/bishop-nagel/|title=Bishop Jen Nagel|first=Jeni|last=Huff}}</ref>}} | signature = }} '''Jen Nagel''' (born March 16, 1972)<ref>{{cite web|title=Jane McBride|date=March 16, 2019|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156234536707215&set=t.1044100718&type=3}}</ref> is a Bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). She was elected to a six-year term in 2024. She is the first lesbian to hold the title of Bishop for the Minneapolis Area Synod.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 20, 2010 |title=A Church Divided, Together |url=https://minnesota.publicradio.org/projects/2010/08/church-divided/new-welcome.shtml |website=Minnesota Public Radio News}}</ref>
==Education== Nagel attended University of St. Andrews-St. Mary's School of Divinity from 1992 to 1993, and graduated from Concordia College with a bachelor's degree in religion in 1994. She then attended the University of Chicago Divinity School, where she graduated with a masters of divinity in 1998. She then attended the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and earned a certificate of studies in 1999, along with an internship at Lord of Light Lutheran Church. She would also have an internship at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.<ref name=":0" />
== Ministry == Nagel first served at Salem English Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, beginning in 2003. Initially, she served as Pastoral Ministry, until her ordination in 2008, when she became a pastor. However, non-celibate members of the LGBT the ELCA were not allowed to be officially ordained until 2009. Instead, she was 'extraordinarily ordained' by Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, until she was formally recognized by the ELCA in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 18, 2008 |title=Rev. Jen Nagel's Extraordinary Ordination |url=https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/rev-jen-nagels-extraordinary-ordination |website=HRC |type=Press release}}</ref> From 2008 onwards, she continued as pastor of that church until 2015.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Bishop Nominee Bio - Jen Nagel |url=https://mpls-synod.org/wp-content/uploads/BISHOP-NOMINEE-BIOS-Jen-Nagel-1.pdf |website=Minneapolis Area Synod |type=Press release}}</ref>
She then served as Lead Pastor for the University Lutheran Church of Hope from 2015, until her election to bishop in May 2024. She officially assumed the position on September 21, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=LSTC Alum Pastor Jen Nagel Elected Bishop |url=https://lstc.edu/story/lstc-alum-pastor-jen-nagel-elected-bishop/ |website=Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago}}</ref> As bishop, her goals have been to strengthen the synod's ties to Lutheran churches in Nigeria and Germany.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Nagel '94 elected new bishop of Minneapolis Area Synod |url=https://www.concordiacollege.edu/news/details/nagel-94-elected-new-bishop-of-minneapolis-area-synod/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250519104022/https://www.concordiacollege.edu/news/details/nagel-94-elected-new-bishop-of-minneapolis-area-synod/ |archive-date=2025-05-19 |access-date=2025-08-30 |work=Concordia College |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2025, she attended the Lutheran World Federation's Retreat of Newly Elected Leaders along with 12 other bishops in Bossey.<ref>{{cite web | title=Led into Life | date=2 September 2025 | url=https://mpls-synod.org/2025/09/led-into-life/ }}</ref> Nagel was a vocal supporter of Yehiel Curry during his election as Presiding Bishop of the ELCA in 2025.<ref>{{cite web | title=Largest U.S. Lutheran denomination installs first Black leader at ceremony in Minneapolis | website=Star Tribune | date=5 October 2025 | url=https://www.startribune.com/yehiel-curry-installed-as-first-black-leader-of-the-elca-at-rousing-ceremony-in-minneapolis/601485847 }}</ref>
On October 15, 2025, she was elected the executive committee of the Conference of Bishops.<ref>{{cite web | title=ELCA Conference of Bishops Gathers in Minneapolis | url=https://www.elca.org/news-and-events/elca-conference-of-bishops-gathers-in-minneapolis }}</ref>
On January 12, 2026, Nagel issued a statement following the Killing of Renée Good, urging local Minneapolis and State officials to "to everything in their power to protect every Minnesotan from unlawful harassment and targeting by ICE."<ref>{{cite web|title=Bishop's Statement on ICE in Minnesota|date=January 12, 2026|url=https://mpls-synod.org/news/bishops-statement-on-ice-in-minnesota/}}</ref>
On Ash Wednesday of 2026, Nagel attempted to enter Whipple Federal Building to visit detainees. She was turned away by guards. In response, the Minneapolis Synod of the ELCA and the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ filed a lawsuit against the DHS on February 23, 2026.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jenkins|first=Jack|title=Minnesota faith groups sue DHS over access to immigrant detainees|publisher=Anabaptist World|date=February 25, 2026|url=https://anabaptistworld.org/minnesota-faith-groups-sue-dhs-over-access-to-immigrant-detainees/|access-date=March 22, 2026}}</ref> Federal Judge Jerry W. Blackwell ruled in favor of Nagel and the religious organizations, and ordered on March 20, 2026, that the Department of Homeland Security had to allow her and other clergy members entry.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sepic|first=Matt|title=Judge orders Homeland Security to open Whipple to clergy|publisher=MPR News|date=March 20, 2026|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/03/20/clergy-seek-court-order-to-allow-pastoral-access-immigrants-at-minneapolis-ice-facility|access-date=March 22, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Nelson|first=Sarah|last2=Kaul|first2=Greta|title=Federal judge orders DHS to allow clergy visits at Whipple Building|publisher=Star Tribune|date=March 21, 2026|url=https://www.startribune.com/clergy-access-whipple-lawsuit-federal-judge-injunction-minneapolis-elca-ucc-ice-dhs-metro-surge/601622938|access-date=March 22, 2026}}</ref>
== Personal life == Nagel is married to Rev. Jane McBride, a pastor in the United Church of Christ. They have two children.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Staff |url=https://firstchurchmn.org/about/staff/ |website=First Congregational Church of Minnesota}}</ref>
== See also ==
* List of ELCA synods * Timeline of women's ordination * Christianity and sexual orientation * List of Christian denominations affirming LGBTQ people
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nagel, Jen}} Category:21st-century American Lutheran clergy Category:Living people Category:21st-century Lutheran bishops Category:Women Lutheran bishops Category:Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota) alumni Category:LGBTQ Lutheran bishops Category:People from New Ulm, Minnesota Category:21st-century American Lutheran bishops Category:Alumni of the University of St Andrews Category:Religious leaders from Minnesota Category:1972 births Category:Evangelical Lutheran Church in America bishops Category:Bishops in Minnesota