Breakout Sessions
Presenters, Details, & More
This page will continue to be updated the closer we get to Conference. Whether or not the session will be streamed is TBD. Please keep in mind that this schedule is tentative and subject to change. To view the full Conference schedule, click here.
BLOCK A | BLOCK B | BLOCK C | BLOCK D | BLOCK E
Block A
Friday, 11:30AM ET
Reconstructing Faith: Finding Our Queer Selves in Scripture
TRACKS: Theology & Scripture: Faith, Gender Identity, and Sexuality
In this session we’ll identify tools to reclaim God’s message of radical love and purpose for LGBTQ people. We'll start with an unlikely, and surprisingly uplifting look at the Epistle of James. It's hard to believe a letter full of so many "to do" lists could contain so much encouragement and hope! We'll gain insight to God’s purpose for LGBTQ people in the Gospel of John. With a few tools which we'll identify during the session, we can reclaim God's message of hope and love for us.
ANDY WELLS (HE/HIM)
Andy Wells is the author of “Tried to Be Straight – Options for Gay Christians,” a book written to conservative LGBTQ Christians looking for a way to reconcile their faith and sexualities. He has a Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics from Biola University.
Andy lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. He enjoys aviation, boating, and music, and has an active role at his church, St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco.
Equitable Peacemaking: Approaching Vulnerability, Trust, and Polyamory
TRACKS: Building Healthy Relationships, Dialogue and Managing Conflict
CONTENT WARNING: Sexual Assault, Abuse, Violence, Jealousy, cheating, lying
Equitable Peacemaking presents how to access the holy ground between adults in polyamorous relationships creating intimate, sacramental communication. Being aware of the need for communication at a sacramental level builds trust while exposing people to a level of vulnerability requiring practice and dignity for everyone. Often, people in polyamorous relationships don't believe they should live their faith or discipline their families similarly. Resolving arising conflicts causes people to embrace living faith in action. The goal is to practice simple techniques to embrace vulnerability, provide guidelines for conflict resolution, and create space for people to experience everyone's faith, expression, and tradition.
Israel McMullen
Israel McMullen is a native El Pasoan and lives in Atlanta, GA. He received his BA in Religion from Eastern New Mexico University and his MA in English and American Literature from The University of Texas at El Paso. He focused on Leadership and Global Studies while in seminary and serving as a missionary. Having traveled extensively in an Army family, his primary interests became conflict resolution, literary subcultures, intentional communities, spiritual formation, urban agriculture, and power criticism. He’s a trumpeter in the Atlanta Freedom Bands and a life member of Sigma Tau Delta. He likes to swim and compose.
Affirming Theology for LGBTQ+ Youth
TRACKS: Parents, Families & Allies
CONTENT WARNING: Self-harm and/or suicide, Homophobia and/or Transphobia
LGBTQ+ Youth hear a lot of non affirming faith based messages. These non affirming messages negatively impact the mental and spiritual well being of LGBTQ+ youth. This session will help Christian parents and other Christian adults learn how to assure LGBTQ+ children that they are created in God's image, that God loves, supports, accepts, and affirms them as an LGBTQ+ person just as they are and that God desires for them to live wholeheartedly into the person God created them to be.
LIZ DYER (SHE/HER)
Liz Dyer (she/her) is a writer, speaker, activist and founder of the Real Mama Bears organization. Real Mama Bears offers the largest private Facebook group for moms of LGBTQ+ kids with more than 40,000 members, more than 60 local Mama Bear chapters, and 7 programs serving the LGBTQ+ community. For more info about Real Mama Bears visit the website realmamabears.org
Embracing Uncertainty: Intersectional Theology as a way Past Deconstruction
TRACKS: Equity, Allyship & Intersectionality: Racial, Theological, and Relational
CONTENT WARNING: Sexual Assault, Abuse, Self-harm and/or suicide, Eating disorders, body hatred, and fat phobia, Violence, Death or dying, Racism and/or racial slurs, Sexism and misogyny, Homophobia and/or Transphobia, Profanity
This session explores how queer individuals' experiences with complexity and uncertainty can guide others through faith deconstruction. Drawing from my perspective as a transgender Asian woman with past white male privilege, I'll demonstrate how intersectional experiences offer unique insights into navigating both faith and social justice. Using intersectional theology as a framework, we'll examine how centering marginalized voices can benefit those questioning or leaving evangelical spaces. This approach highlights how existing in "in-between" spaces equips us to help others embrace nuance and multiple perspectives.
Dr. Miche van Essen (she/her)
Dr. Miche van Essen (she/her) is a Senior Partner at The Resonance and the Director of Operations for Transmission Ministry Collective. As a person with many intersectional identities, she has shaped her theological lens around bridge-building and embracing ambiguity. She holds a DMin from Pacific School of Religion and a MA in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary. Miche is passionate about playing sports with Stonewall Sports and making music.
Perseverance: An Open Conversation of Mixed Orientation Marriage (MOM) Experiences
TRACKS: Equity, Allyship & Intersectionality: Racial, Theological, and Relational
The experiences of those who live or have lived in MOMs often face unique circumstances, transitions, and stressors that call for them to adapt and adjust their behaviors to cope with evolving conditions and expectations that they find themselves in. We will examine how perseverance birthed resilience and liberation in the lives of the Tuesday night MOM group members.
Steve Blinder
Steve is the pastor at Brandon Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Florida and lived in a MOM for nearly 30 years before the marriage ended in divorce.
Bobbi Ullinger (her/she)
Bobbi is an active member of a United Church of Christ in Ohio whose marriage survived her coming out. Steve and Bobbi have co-facilitated the Tuesday night MOM group for four years together. Both actively advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in their states.
Block B
Friday, 2:30PM ET
Your Becoming Body: Transformation as a Path to the Divine
TRACKS: Spiritual Practices & Formation
In-Person
Our bodies are our sacred homes — living, evolving expressions of the Divine. As 1 John 3:2 reminds us, “what we will be has not yet been revealed.” How might this passage invite us to embrace and reclaim our embodied transformation? Could it inspire us to reimagine our spiritual practices and relationship with God?
In this session, we will explore creative ways to express our faith, cultivate embodied safety and presence, and reflect on our interconnectedness with the complex, natural world. This breakout will include a guided meditation, journaling, and time for Q&A with optional sharing.
Serafina BLAKE (she/her)
Serafina (she/her) is a graduate student in Pastoral Theology and Spiritual Direction from Los Angeles, CA. She is dedicated to creating welcoming, inclusive spaces for spiritual exploration and mind-body restoration. With a passion for integrating healing practices and body-oriented modalities into spiritual care, Serafina has spent the past decade studying the art of facilitating trauma-informed yoga, meditation, breathwork, and creative expression practices.
Outside of school and work, Serafina enjoys connecting with the earth by exploring the outdoors, spending time at the beach, and going for hikes with her dog.
Consent & Care: Empowering Safer Sex for Queer Men of Faith
TRACKS: The Body & Sexual Ethics
CONTENT WARNING: Sexual Assault, Eating disorders, body hatred, and fat phobia, Violence, Sexism and misogyny, Homophobia and/or Transphobia, Sexual content: discussions of sex and sexual behaviors
While comprehensive sex education is crucial for everyone to make informed decisions about their sexual well-being, queer Christian men (cis and trans) often face unique challenges in accessing this information due to the cumulative impact of non-affirming theologies, societal stigma, internalized misogyny, and a lack of inclusive resources. This workshop aims to first address the ways in which queer men of faith are disadvantaged in finding safe spaces to process their experiences—emotionally, physically, and socially—while also struggling to obtain stigma-free information about HIV/AIDS, STDs, STIs, testing, harm reduction, sex with trans men, pregnancy, and sexual health more broadly. Secondly, it will provide strategies for addressing these issues by introducing practices that build mind-body connection, promote body positivity, and offer other tools to help create sexual experiences that are safe, affirming, dignifying, and closely aligned with one's sexual ethic.
Myles Markham (he/him or they/them)
Myles Markham (he/him or they/them) is a queer and transgender Native Hawaiian/Japanese American born and raised in the Deep South. Myles has worked in LGBTQ+ advocacy across religious, non-profit, business, and education sectors for the last decade and currently works in documentary film as an impact producer, in non-profit management as the Director of Development for Trans Lifeline, and serves on the board of directors for Transmission Ministry Collective
Darren Calhoun (he/him)
Darren Calhoun is a justice advocate, worship leader, and artist based out of Chicago. He works to bridge connections between people of differing perspectives through story and relationship. He’s an associate fellow at Christians for Social Action and sings with a progressive band called The Many. He’s facilitated workshops and lead worship for local and national gatherings and events. He's a co-host on the Second Sunday podcast and producer for online shows that are reaching BIPOC Queer audiences with messages of support and healing.
Setting Boundaries with Parents: Increasing the Chances for Healthy Connection
TRACKS: Building Healthy Relationships, Dialogue and Managing Conflict
In-Person
Some of us think of boundaries as producing division, putting up walls, or drawing rigid lines about acceptable behavior.
What if boundaries have the potential for creating space where connective, healthy relationships can thrive?
We’ll talk about the potential of clear, kind boundaries to help adult kids know what they need from their parents, and parents to discover how they can better show up for their kids.
Candice is a therapist who has spent years practicing what works when setting boundaries. Linda is a parent whose adult kids remind her regularly that boundaries are actually an act of great love.
Linda Robertson (she/her)
Linda Robertson (she/her) wrote a short essay that went viral in 2013 (Just Because He Breathes) about her own culpability in the death of her gay son. She continues to speak and write about what she has learned from Ryan’s life and death.
Linda’s been involved with QCF since 2014 when she and her husband keynoted at the Chicago conference. She leads the QCF Parent Team and W-Dig, a virtual drop-in group for parents of LGBTQ kids. She is passionate about her own personal growth so that she can better show up with authenticity and Love in her world.
Candice Czubernat (SHE/hER)
Candice Czubernat has been a therapist for 20 years and is the founder of the LGBTQ+ affirming counseling and coaching practice, The Christian Closet, as well as the non-profit Affirming Therapy. She and her team of LGBTQ+ identified clinicians work with queer people from all over the world through online telehealth services, helping them navigate the intersections of queer identity with a Christian faith. Candice is a graduate of The Moody Bible Institute and The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. She identifies as a lesbian and a Christian. She lives in a small mountain town in southern California with her wife, Crystal, and their 10-year-old boy/girl twins Deacon and Dylan. When she's not working, you can find her spending time with her wife, attending one of her kids' sports games, or cuddling with their dog, Charlie Bonz.
Bridging Continents: How We Can Stand with Queer Africans in Their Fight for Existence
TRACKS: Theology & Scripture: Faith, Gender Identity, and Sexuality
CONTENT WARNING: Abuse, Death or dying, Homophobia and/or Transphobia
Discover the powerful story of LGBTQ+ Christians in Zimbabwe who are not just fighting for equal rights but for the very right to exist. This session introduces you to Ronald Madongwe and his groundbreaking ministry, God Adores You (G.A.Y.), a beacon of hope in a nation where being queer can mean facing police raids, violence, and familial abandonment—all under the guise of preserving a 'Christian' nation.
Learn about the profound impact of Western influence on these draconian laws and explore actionable ways the American church can support positive change. Join us in building bridges of solidarity, understanding, and love across continents, and find out how you can make a tangible difference in the lives of those courageously living their truth against overwhelming odds.
Thomas Igeme
Thomas Igeme is a queer, Black immigrant originally from Uganda who grew up in Kenya. With over 17 years in the Bay Area, Thomas brings a unique cultural and identity perspective to his work in faith and social justice. As the Founder and Managing Director of TL Partners, a talent and leadership management consulting firm, Thomas applies his expertise to causes close to his heart, including his board roles with FACES SF, Envision Education, and City Church San Francisco, where he serves as an elder.
In his advocacy for LGBTQ+ Christians, Thomas is passionate about elevating the voices of those in communities where being queer is not just difficult—it is dangerous. This mission led him to collaborate with Ronald Madongwe and his ministry, God Adores You (G.A.Y.), which is dedicated to supporting queer Christians in Zimbabwe, a country where identifying as LGBTQ+ can lead to violence, arrests, and familial rejection.
Thomas believes deeply in the power of faith to bridge divides and envisions a global community where love, justice, and compassion transcend borders. At QCF, he will join Ronald in sharing the courageous stories of queer Christians in Zimbabwe, inviting the global church to offer solidarity and support in their fight not only for rights but for survival.
Ronnie Madongwe (HE/HIM)
Ronnie Madongwe was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. Since primary school, he knew he was gay. He committed his life to God. He prayed against the demon of gayism. But nothing changed. He ministered in school and church. Despite inner fighting, Ronnie ministered faithfully until he relocated to South Africa, where, for a short period, he joined a gay-centered life but soon felt the void compared to a Christ-centered life. He cried every time he saw young people living without considering their future due to the rejection of the church. In 2018, he met Douglas McFalls. He helped Ronnie see his ministry potential. In 2019, Ronnie launched the God Adores You WhatsApp group, which now reaches across Africa with encouraging words of faith and a place for helpful and safe conversation. God Adores You now includes workshops for pastors and parents and bible studies for LGBTQ believers.
Danny cortez (HE/HIM)
Danny Cortez (he/him) pastored New Heart, a church dismissed from the Southern Baptist Convention for becoming an inclusive space for LGBTQ+ people. He founded Estuary Space, a non-profit that helps people and churches navigate the complexities of faith, gender, and sexuality. He now pastors at Long Beach Christian Fellowship in Long Beach, CA. He authored The Clergy Guide for QCF, a manual to help churches navigate conversations to become fully affirming of LGBTQ people. He is on the board of Bridges in Africa and PFLAG SGV API.
Douglas McFalls (HE/HIM)
Douglas McFalls has been working and living in Africa for two decades. While visiting South Africa, Douglas was introduced to Ronnie Madongwe, an economic exile from Zimbabwe. Seeing his deep faith and his burden for the suffering LGBTQ+ Christians, Ronnie, and Douglas birthed the God Adores You ministry. Douglas currently spends his time between Kenya and Seattle dealing with the education crisis, drought, and displacement of a Maasai community at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro through his NGO, the ADEA Foundation. Douglas also provides educational and spiritual support to several gay and straight Africans.
Thriving While Celibate
TRACKS: The Body & Sexual Ethics
CONTENT WARNING: Abuse, Self-harm and/or suicide, Eating disorders, body hatred, and fat phobia, Sexism and misogyny, Homophobia and/or Transphobia
Celibacy as a choice and calling can be life-giving, whether for a short time or a lifelong commitment. Our diverse panel will discuss questions including: How do we know if we're thriving or not? What are some of the pitfalls of choosing celibacy? How do celibate people get enough healthy touch and emotional intimacy? How are celibate LGBTQ+ Christians unique gifts to the church and to society? How do long-term celibate people deal with aging and security in their senior years? There will also be time to hear from participants in small group discussion and Q&A.
Lin Melone, (she/her)
Lin Melone, (she/her), lives in community at the Church of the Sojourners in San Francisco. She identifies as cis/gay/queer/demi/gray and is the mom of a grown son from a 25-year mixed-orientation marriage. Lin's professional background is in education and children's ministry, and she is the author of "Welcoming Rainbow Kids" in "Faith Forward: A Dialogue on Children, Youth and a New Kind of Christianity" (Czinos and Bray, eds. 2013). Lin has presented at conferences such as Revoice, E3, and Weaving Our Gifts, as well as at prior QCF conferences. Lin serves on the Q EDI Council.
Bridget Eileen Rivera (she/he/they)
Bridget Eileen Rivera (she/he/they) provides support to churches and ministries seeking to become places where LGBTQ+ people can truly thrive in their faith. Her groundbreaking book, Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church (Brazos Press, 2021), was named a Foreword INDIES 2021 Finalist in religion and is acclaimed for its honest portrayal of the discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ Christians in the church. A proud homeschool graduate and alum of Patrick Henry College, Bridget has become a leading voice on gay celibacy in the church, bridging the gap between traditional faith perspectives and contemporary discussions on gender and sexuality. The recipient of multiple fellowship awards, she is completing her PhD in sociology at the City University of New York Graduate Center and serves as an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Connect with her on social media @travelingnun.
Grant Hartley (HE/HIM)
Grant Hartley is an MDiv student currently living near St. Louis, Missouri. His written work has appeared in America, Outreach, and Grotto Network, and he co-hosts the Life on Side B podcast, which explores the joys, beauty, and challenges of living the traditional sexual ethic as LGBT+/same-sex attracted Christians. He has led breakout sessions on LGBTQ+ culture and inculturation, the Bible and homosexuality, living a life of chastity, and falling in love with the Bible again.
Johana Marie Williams
Bio coming soon!
Scott Herr
Bio coming soon!
Adam & Adam: God's Design for Humanity
TRACKS: Theology & Scripture: Faith, Gender Identity, and Sexuality
CONTENT WARNING: Sexism and misogyny, Homophobia and/or Transphobia
If conservative evangelicals actually interpreted the Bible the way they say they do, then they should include all siblings of faith, including those in the LGBTQIA+ community, in all levels of the church. In this breakout session, Amanda will identify flaws in her own tradition’s interpretive methods, reclaim Genesis 1:1-5:2 by studying it without faulty “gender role” lenses, and connect the kinship between the first two humans with the values of the radically inclusive early church. She will demonstrate that a high view of Scripture calls for full affirmation of all genders in the life of the church today.
Amanda Pence (she/her)
Amanda Pence recently graduated with highest honors from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University with an M.A. Bible Exposition (’24). At Talbot, her studies specialized in reading the Bible “biblically” and related exegetical and hermeneutical methodology. Amanda excels at intertextuality and understanding the story of the Bible as a whole. Her essay, “Vindicating Bathsheba,” was a winner of CBE International’s student paper competition. She presented it at the CBE annual conference and it was subsequently published in the Autumn 2022 Priscilla Papers. She is a Bible Teacher at Fullerton Free Church and an Evangelical LGBTQIA+ Advocate.
Block C
FRIDAY, 4:15PM ET
Theology of Imagination: Crafting New Narratives Through Collage Art
TRACKS: Spiritual Practices & Formation
CONTENT WARNING: Sexism and misogyny, Homophobia and/or Transphobia
Navigating spaces built on conventional social norms necessitates the exploration of innovative methods for engagement within Christian contexts. As individuals who offer unique perspectives, we may find it challenging to effectively share our visions with others. This session draws on the theology of imagination, inviting us to reflect on God’s desire for new things.
In this breakout session, participants will engage in collage art to practice constructing and envisioning a new kind of beauty in our unfolding stories. By integrating elements from existing works, we will create new works of art that symbolize the paths we are trailblazing for ourselves.
Kiry Poiema (they/them)
Kiry Poiema (they/them) is an artist, theologian, and passionate advocate for inclusive faith spaces where LGBTQ+ and minority identities are celebrated and authentically expressed. With a background in theology, art, and pastoral care, Kiry integrates creative practices with theological reflection to explore new ways of connecting with God and each other.
In their work and personal faith, they believe in the transformative power of storytelling and creative expression. They hold that each individual’s journey offers a vital and beautiful contribution to the body of Christ, especially when nurtured in courageous spaces.
What Hath Stonewall to Do With Jerusalem?
TRACKS: Equity, Allyship & Intersectionality: Racial, Theological, and Relational
CONTENT WARNING: Sexism and misogyny, Homophobia and/or Transphobia
Suspicious of the influence of Greek philosophy on the Christian faith, the early church father Tertullian once famously quipped, "What hath Athens to do with Jerusalem?" Many today might ask the same thing about the influence of LGBTQ+ history and culture. Looking at the years preceding and immediately following Stonewall Riots in Greenwich Village, New York in 1969, one might be surprised at the common ground between the Christian faith and the emerging gay liberation movement. Drawing from the lessons of the past (both ancient and modern, Christian and LGBTQ+), we will explore what it looks like to be radicalized—that is, to be both firmly rooted upon the foundations of our faith and brave enough to follow Jesus wherever he leads, even if it means being at odds with a broader culture.
Grant Hartley
Grant Hartley is an MDiv student currently living near St. Louis, Missouri. His written work has appeared in America, Outreach, and Grotto Network, and he co-hosts the Life on Side B podcast, which explores the joys, beauty, and challenges of living the traditional sexual ethic as LGBT+/same-sex attracted Christians. He has led breakout sessions on LGBTQ+ culture and inculturation, the Bible and homosexuality, living a life of chastity, and falling in love with the Bible again.
Coloring the Rainbow: Black MSM and Faith Based Sexual Exclusion
TRACKS: Theology & Scripture: Faith, Gender Identity, and Sexuality
CONTENT WARNING: Racism and/or racial slurs, Homophobia and/or Transphobia, Religious trauma
The Black church is a long standing pillar in the Black community. However, many Black Christian MSM who are, or seek to be, actively involved in the space struggle to find acceptance. Mental traumas rooted in scriptural misinterpretation and intergenerational teachings that shame and denounce their sexual identity affect how they interact personally, professionally, and sexually. In effort to be accepted, some will put on a façade of heterosexualism to appease the church and avoid homophobic rejection. This workshop explores the impact of faith-based sexual exclusion and its influence on sexual health, access to HIV care, and mental wellness.
Dr. Dontá Morrison
Dr. Dontá Morrison focuses on improving the wellness of marginalized individuals, specifically Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) who identify as LGBTQ. With 20+ years of experience in community engagement and servant leadership, he works to restructure how traditional systems engage in conversations about sex, sexual behavior, and human sexuality. His doctoral research investigated the impact of faith-based sexual exclusion upon the lives of Black Christian gay and bisexual men who are actively involved within the traditional Black church. A sensitive topic that must be addressed in order to create sexually inclusive spaces that support holistic approaches to wellness.
Coming Out Again: Speaking the Truth of Our Evolving Identities
TRACKS: Coming Out: Guidance and Experiences
CONTENT WARNING: Homophobia and/or Transphobia
It’s not uncommon for LGBTQ+ folks to experience more than one “coming out”—we share our identities over and over with coworkers, family, friends, faith community, and even strangers. But what happens when those identities shift and change over time? Coming Out Again: Speaking the Truth of Our Evolving Identities is a space for those of us who have had to come to terms with our changing selves under the queer umbrella: for instance, coming out first as gay or lesbian and later realizing we are transgender, or sharing our non-monogamous relationship status after having come out initially. We will discuss the sacredness and complexity of sharing our truest selves with others, navigating our own changes in queer identity as well as the responses of those around us as we grow to know ourselves more deeply.
Elias Arrington (they/them)
Elias Arrington (they/them) is a transmasculine queer person living on Powhatan land in Richmond, Virginia. They have a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University and plan to begin pursuing their Masters in Counseling next year. They were raised charismatic evangelical and now find their home (amid lots of questions and doubts) in the Episcopal tradition. Eli is passionate about queer and trans joy, fat activism, disability justice, and recovery advocacy. They enjoy writing, baking, swimming, and sending snail mail in their free time.
Queering Spirituality
TRACKS: Spiritual Practices & Formation
CONTENT WARNING: Racism and/or racial slurs, Sexism and misogyny, Homophobia and/or Transphobia
To “queer” something is to re-examine, deconstruct, or subvert it though a queer lens. It means to pay attention to our deepest longings and listen to the wisdom of our bodies as we join the Spirit in the Great Work of Liberation. This work involves unearthing the toxic myths and ideas that weave through our own consciousness as well as challenging the way these myths and ideas take concrete expression in the world around us.
Kalie May Hargrove (she/her)
Kalie May Hargrove (she/her) is a writer, theologian, and activist living in the greater-Atlanta area. Kalie is Director of Communications at the Center for Prophetic Imagination, which connects the intersection of socio-spiritual discernment and radical justice in our world, and is a board member for R.E.A.P.
Maki Ashe Van Steenwyk (she/they)
Maki Ashe Van Steenwyk (she/they) is the co-founder of the Center for Prophetic Imagination. She is a writer, teacher, organizer, and spiritual director. Ashe is the author of That Holy Anarchist, unKingdom, and A Wolf at the Gate. She is currently completing a doctoral dissertation on socio-spiritual discernment.
Block D
Saturday, 11:30AM ET
Losing My Religion and Why I Still Believe
TRACKS: Spiritual Practices & Formation
Life can be unsettling when the beliefs you once held no the same. “Do I even believe anymore?” “How can I trust a Bible used to justify slavery, genocide, and the oppression of LGBTQ+ people?” These are questions Danny, an ordained SBC pastor, wrestled with as he re-examined his faith. In sharing his journey through disorientation and re-orientation, Danny invites us to explore the deeper core of belief. Through personal stories, Scripture, and a look at church history, he helps us rediscover the timeless truths that sustain faith. Join us for an honest, warm conversation about the evolution of belief.
Danny cortez (HE/HIM)
Danny Cortez (he/him) pastored New Heart, a church dismissed from the Southern Baptist Convention for becoming an inclusive space for LGBTQ+ people. He founded Estuary Space, a non-profit that helps people and churches navigate the complexities of faith, gender, and sexuality. He now pastors at Long Beach Christian Fellowship in Long Beach, CA. He authored The Clergy Guide for QCF, a manual to help churches navigate conversations to become fully affirming of LGBTQ people. He is on the board of Bridges in Africa and PFLAG SGV API.
Erotic Self-Care for Spiritual Wholeness
TRACKS: Spiritual Practices & Formation
CONTENT WARNING: Sexual Assault, Self-harm and/or suicide, I may use clinical (non-profane) terms for secondary sexual characteristics in passing. probably won't mention sexual assault except as the type of behavior mindful eroticism prevents.
Mindfulness is the key to self-care in any aspect of our lives, and self-care is essential for a fruitful, healthy life of service to others. Even for those practicing celibacy or abstinence until marriage, erotic self-care—which does not necessarily involve sex or even the genitals—mindfully approaches the places where we connect most intimately with ourselves, with God, and (as appropriate) with others. Exploring our desires before God helps us choose the best forms of relating for us, given our unique situations, inclinations and aspirations, allowing us to participate in God’s dream for the joyous reconciliation of all things.
Jon Carl Lewis (HE/HIM)
Jon Carl Lewis (he/him) is a spiritual guide helping queer and progressive Christians discern healthy sexual/relational practices and attitudes for themselves, those they love, and the communities in which they live out their gospel-shaped life. A candidate for the Master of Arts in Public Ministry at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, he brings theological and spiritual curiosity—as well as a geeky love of peer-reviewed science and a bit of voyeurism around the beautiful diversity, complexity, and fluidity of real people’s lived sexual/spiritual experiences—to explore healthy, justice-oriented, Jesus-centered and joyful ethical stances around sexuality, relating, and the body.
Our Sacred Stories: Healing Through Storytelling
TRACKS: UNCHANGED Movement
CONTENT WARNING: CW for any and all sensitive topics. Due to the nature of mapping, writing, and sharing stories there is no guarantee this session will be free of any content related to any of the above topics.
Our innate “ways of knowing” and “ways of being” as LGBTQIA+ children of God have been dismissed at best and attacked at worst. Queer & Trans stories ARE part of God’s story. Storytelling is part of the human experience and you don’t need to be a professional to engage in it. Come and join in the practice of story telling & hearing as spiritual practice and healing. This session is for LGBTQ folks & allies alike. We will be mapping, writing, and sharing (optionally) our stories as an act of reclamation, reconciliation, and love.
Jae Bates (HE/HIM)
Jae Bates is an award winning story teller who currently works as a free-range preacher, pastor, and coach. He lives in the Twin Cities with his husband and dog. He identifies as queer, transgender, and a Korean adoptee. Jae’s work is rooted in the liberating work of Jesus Christ & a vision of flourishing life for all. Jae specializes in adoptee-centered ministry, LGBTQ+ ministry, and anti-racism & racial justice.
Sex & Patriarchy: Examining Power and Status in Queer Relationships
TRACKS: The Body & Sexual Ethics
CONTENT WARNING: Sexism and misogyny, Homophobia and/or Transphobia
Love and romance post purity culture can be appear liberating without the pressure of traditional gender roles. But without critical analysis on power in romance, heterosexual and queer relationships alike risk falling back into patriarchal systems. In this presentation, Ashley unpacks how the toxicity of patriarchy can still be present in queer romance. She examines the story of Eve, power dynamics in romance, male fragility, and the myth of baggage. Ashley also offers up the gift of mutuality and feminist theology as resources for growth in pursuing healthy relationships.
Ashley Lynn Hengst
Ashley Lynn Hengst is a Cuban American lesbian passionate about helping ex-evangelicals unlearn the toxic aspects of the Christian faith. Ashley is the host of “The Unlearning Podcast” where she helps listeners unpack Scripture and the Christian life through the lens of liberation theologies. Ashley is a graduate of North Carolina Central University, the Academy of Art, and Claremont School of Theology. When she’s not working on her podcast, Ashley officiates funerals for Forest Lawn. Ashley lives with her wife, Jen, and their daughter, Ruth Ellen in Los Angeles, CA.
Holding Fast to the Good: LGBTQ+ Catholic Wisdom for Everyone
TRACKS: Theology & Scripture: Faith, Gender Identity, and Sexuality
Vatican pronouncements that rule out same-sex relationships and transgender identities are well-known. Yet, for over fifty years, LGBTQ+ Catholics have charted a different course informed by our prayer, our communities, and our own lived-experience.
This workshop will reflect on those themes already present in the Catholic tradition that LGBTQ+ Catholics have found to be deeply affirming and sustaining in our walk of Christian discipleship. Participants will be invited to reflect upon and share the positive aspects of their own churches and faith traditions that sustain their LGBTQ+ identities in a positive, life-affirming manner.
Sam Albano (he/him)
Sam Albano (he/him) is a writer, educator, and member of the LGBTQ+ Catholic community. He is a graduate of Saint Joseph's College (Indiana). Sam is the author of “God’s Works Revealed: Spirituality, Theology, and Social Justice for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Catholics” (Paulist Press, 2022). He currently serves as the national secretary of DignityUSA, the oldest and largest organization of LGBTQ+ Catholics. Most recently, Sam has led DignityUSA’s engagement efforts with the global Synod of Bishops in Rome. Sam lives outside Indianapolis, Indiana.
Unraveling: Hems, Healing and Power
TRACKS: Theology & Scripture: Faith, Gender Identity, and Sexuality
CONTENT WARNING: I will share some of the harm I experienced in the church in the process of coming out and surrendering my clergy credentials.
Mark’s Gospel introduces a woman, who after suffering for 12 years secures her healing by boldly touching the frayed hem of Jesus’ garment. Engaging creativity, imagination, and a queer lens we will wander deep into her story. Focusing more on questions and less on answers. Does healing flow from the hems of garments or the unraveling of power and tradition? Is it faith that makes us well or a desire to live authentically? What does it even mean to unravel? Is unraveling an act to avoid? Or must some things come apart so that other things might come together?
Rebecca Wilson (she/her)
Rebecca Wilson (she/her) is a cultivator of creativity, queer poet, curious preacher, and soulful storyteller, uniquely gifted at bringing people together and stirring transformation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Studies from the University of Michigan and a Master of Divinity, with a concentration in Urban Ministry, from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. When the call to authenticity could no longer be ignored, she bravely surrendered her clergy credentials rather than remain in the closet of her denomination. She now shares her prophetic and passionate words with the world through 10 Camels, an offering of hope and healing.
Block E
SATURDAY, 2:30PM ET
Authority, Abuse, & Abolition - (Re)Imagining Church & Community
TRACKS: Building Healthy Relationships, Dialogue and Managing Conflict
CONTENT WARNING: Abuse
Theology is often blamed for toxic abuse but structures of polity play a significant role in magnifying or reducing the harm done to us. While focusing on the question of “what?” to create instead, it is also essential to ask the question of “how” to create it. This session will give an overview of various models of organizing and polity both in the church and outside of it to engage the questions of how to build resilience in our communities and movements, giving space for participants to share their experiences to empower us to continue the work of shared liberation.
SueAnn Shiah
SueAnn Shiah (@sueannshiah, www.sueannshiah.com) is a Taiwanese American musician, filmmaker, community organizer, ethnomusicologist, Queer Christian pastor, and public theologian. Her 2016 documentary HuanDao follows her journey along a two week bike trip around Taiwan. She released her album, “A Liturgy for the Perseverance of the Saints” in 2018. In addition to her own creative and theological works, she collaborates with others in a variety of capacities as a producer, writer, liturgist, and is a member of the leadership team of Taiwan’s New Bloom Magazine. She has a BBA in Music Business, Chinese from Belmont University, a MA in Musicology from National Taiwan University, and is currently pursuing a MDIV/MACEF from Princeton Theological Seminary and ordination in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Affirming and Evangelical? Celebrating & Empowering our Queerly Beloved through Story, Wonder, and Ritual.
TRACKS: Spiritual Practices & Formation
CONTENT WARNING: Self-harm and/or suicide, Racism and/or racial slurs
Inspired by the theologies of Valarie Kaur, Cody Sanders, Patrick Cheng, and Richard Rohr, this session illuminates the historical, theological, and experiential contexts of being young and queer in evangelical America, and encourages the practice of wonder in mystery that is often snuffed out in churches that do not affirm LGBTQ+ experience and understanding. Together we'll reimagine what ritual (coming out, queer baptism, queer eucharist), community (small groups in/outside church), and healing (enfleshing a storied soul) can look like while maintaining a grounding anchor in one's spiritual tradition. The hope of this session is for us to explore possible practices that help spiritually enliven and empower us in our lives.
REV. Manato Jansen
Reverend Manato Jansen moved to the US from Japan in 2015 and earned his B.A. at Calvin University and Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. He is an ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches USA. He has served as an interfaith chaplain at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MIT, Emerson College, and served in ministry at Old Cambridge Baptist Church. Manato serves as the Director of Residential Community at Pres House, an affirming and inclusive PCUSA campus ministry and apartment community at UW-Madison. A highlight of his work at Pres House is facilitating two queer small groups for students and residents.
Discerning Ministry and Call in a Hostile World
TRACKS: Theology & Scripture: Faith, Gender Identity, and Sexuality
CONTENT WARNING: Vulnerable Self-Reflection
Christians are all called into the ministry work of Jesus’ radically inclusive gospel message. This looks like being lay leaders in our churches, living into our vocational ministry through our occupation, or seeking ordination. Discerning our unique call into ministry is a journey that requires considerable time and effort. This process is often made more challenging for LGBTQIA+ Christians because of structural and intersectional barriers. This session is designed to provide affirmation in vocational ministry, tools to discern where God may be calling you into ministry, and tangible resources for pursuing a call to ministry in a hostile world.
Grant Showalter-Swanson
Grant is both a PhD: Theology and New Testament student and the Assistant Director of Admissions and Recruitment at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. An ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church who serves at Urban Village Church, Grant and his husband Connor live with their cat-daughter, Nessa, in Chicago. Born in Omaha, NE, Grant holds a BA in English from North Central College, a MA in English from Middlebury College, and a Master of Divinity from Garrett. Between degrees, Grant taught sixth grade elementary on the Rosebud Reservation and taught eighth grade Reading/Language Arts at the Chicago Jesuit Academy.
Developing a Biblical Sexual Ethic Using Song of Songs
TRACKS: The Body & Sexual Ethics
For many growing up in the church, having a biblical sexual ethic meant celibacy in singleness with sexual activity reserved for marriage between one man and one woman in a monogamous relationship for life. But the Bible is actually very diverse in the way it presents sexual activity. For this breakout session, we will use Song of Songs chapter 8 as a point of discussion to help determine a biblical sexual ethic that works for you! A self-reflection quiz will be offered as well.
Rev. Dr. Gary Fox
Surrendering to a vocational call to ministry after working as a graphic artist, Rev. Dr. Gary Fox is Director of Spiritual Life at Presbyterian Village North in Dallas, Texas. He is author of Understanding Atonement and many small group bible studies and is passionate about sound theological thought.
Rev. Fox graduated from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University with a Doctor of Ministry in 2018 and the Master of Divinity in 2011. Rev. Fox holds his Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University.
Rev. Fox is the proud father of Olivia, his 12 year-old “girl boss” daughter.
From Zero to Community: Building and Maintaining Authentic Friendships
TRACKS: Building Healthy Relationships, Dialogue and Managing Conflict
Every human longs to be known fully and loved unconditionally in safe friendships. Tragically, the skills we often develop to stay safe in our homes, churches, or communities work against us when it comes to building life-giving friendships, especially if we also identify as LGBTQ+. This session will help us understand and adapt our relational strategies as we discover how they help or hinder us when it comes to friendship. While this break-out will include specific help for a queer audience, anyone longing for deeper connection with others will find helpful, hopeful ways to encourage that connection.
GRACE THOMAS (she/HER)
Grace is a trans woman out publicly for 3 years. She served 32 years as a pastor in a conservative denomination. During this time her two youngest children came out as gay. And so began a long journey of rethinking faith and what it means to fully love others, especially her children and herself. An introvert by nature, friendships have never come easy. But they HAVE become the lifeblood of her thriving as a queer person. She offers her experiences to encourage others in their pursuit of friendship whether queer or straight.
Queerness as Holiness: Embracing Radical Honesty and Sacred Freedom
CONTENT WARNING: Profanity, use of scripture passages
What if your queerness is sacred? This interactive workshop invites you to explore queerness as a divine expression of radical honesty and spiritual freedom. Using the R.E.S.T. Mixtape framework—Radical Truth-Telling, Ethical Non-Duality, Cosmotheandric Spirituality, and Ethnographic Tradition—we’ll celebrate vulnerability as holy and challenge the binaries that bind us. Through storytelling, reflection, and connection, discover how your authentic self embodies divine truth. Leave empowered to embrace your identity unapologetically and live with courage, grace, and sacred freedom. This is more than a workshop; it’s an invitation to honor the holiness of being fully yourself. Come as you are!
Tamice Spencer-Helms (They/THEM)
Tamice Spencer-Helms is a thoughtful author, speaker, and theologian based in Richmond, Virginia. Married to Ellison, they are proud parents to two daughters earthside, Harlym and Eshé, a son in the cosmos, Rustin James, and their playful fur baby, Beacon Rey. With two Master’s degrees in contextual leadership and theology and ongoing doctoral studies in social transformation, Tamice’s work introduces “enby epistemology” and “mixtape methodology” through the R.E.S.T. Mixtape Framework. Drawing on over 20 years of youth leadership and theoactivism, Tamice explores faith reconstruction in their book Faith Unleavened, their Life After Leaven podcast, and soulful leadership work.