Laura Smidzik, executive director of Project 515, an organization whose mission is to ensure that same sex couples and their families have equal rights and considerations under Minnesota law, announced on Tuesday she will be resigning at the end of the year.

“Project 515’s success over its first years would have been impossible without Laura’s leadership and we will really miss her,” Lee Anderson, Project 515 Board chair, said in a statement on Tuesday. “Laura has chosen an exciting new life direction and we wish her all the best.”

“Meanwhile, Project 515 remains committed to seeking equality and fairness for all Minnesota families,” Anderson said. “We have begun to develop our 2010 legislative strategy, which will build on our success last session. We look forward to another successful year.”

A press release about the resignation praises Smidzik’s accomplishments:

During her time with Project 515, Smidzik managed the organization’s efforts to lead Minnesotans in a broad discussion about the discrimination that exists in Minnesota laws. These efforts have begun to change the debate at the Capitol. The 2009 legislative session saw several advances in correcting the discriminatory language in Minnesota’s statutes, including passage of the “Protecting One’s Home” bill (Chapter 160; SF 1208), which was signed into law. Smidzik also led the organization’s outreach efforts to metro and Greater Minnesota communities and helped its overall support network grow significantly.

Smidzik will be joining the ministry and will begin studying at United Theological Seminary in January. The board has formed a search committee and will begin soliciting for a new executive director in the coming weeks.